February 2024 So, you’re in Massachusetts, scratching your head over MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. You’ve got options, my friend, but let’s not get our wires crossed. We’ve got two main characters in this drama: MassHealth Long-Term Care and MassHealth Standard. Think of them as siblings—related but with totally different personalities. MassHealth Long-Term Care: This […]
This spring my study partner from law school passed away from pancreatic cancer. After college, I worked for three years before starting law school. I got engaged in November of my first year. I lived at home with my parents and commuted to Boston for School. Everyone else seemed to be right out of college. […]
Our number one goal is to educate our clients about the probate process, what it is, how it works, and why people want to avoid it — us attorneys included! In Massachusetts, when someone dies, their assets (bank accounts, real estate, retirement, investments, online accounts) need to “go somewhere.” Here is the background: According to […]
Title insurance protects against financial loss from title defects or claims against your property. For example, if a third party has a claim on the property that the initial title exam did not reveal, title insurance will protect against it. These claims can pop up at any time, even after owning the property for several […]
Everyone over 18 needs three essential legal documents to be prepared for whatever the future may hold: a health care proxy, a HIPAA Release, and a durable power of attorney. If you neglect to set up these documents, the aftermath could be both emotionally and financially straining for everyone involved – just look at this […]
When making a big decision, like selling a house, you want someone who knows what they’re doing to help you through the process. There is a lot of money on the line, coupled with the stress of moving itself, and what feels like piles of confusing paperwork to get through. Having someone knowledgeable that specializes […]
Many of us are caring for aging parents, adult children, or disabled family members, which means being involved in their medical care. During this time, you may need to act as a second set of ears to understand what is going on and the doctor’s’ plans moving forward. This can be difficult on its own, […]
Feels like summer is just kicking off, but already, we’re seeing back to school displays at Target. For school-aged kids, this means school supplies and backpacks. And for those headed off to college, we’re seeing sales on dorm essentials like bedding, small fridges, and storage bins. But as you spend the summer planning and anticipating […]
For Massachusetts residents who can’t afford the healthcare they need, MassHealth steps in to fill the gap. But MassHealth carefully controls costs, and not everyone gets everything covered. The program assigns applicants different coverage types depending on factors including income and immigration status. It can be hard to know exactly what MassHealth will pay for […]
There are certain things that you kind of have to do on your own, like interviewing for a job or rowing a single kayak. And then there are those things that you maybe can do on your own, but are a whole lot easier with professional help—moving furniture, filing your taxes, selling your home. From […]
Will you need nursing-home care someday? And if you do, will you be able to afford the five-figure monthly fees out of pocket? Many Americans don’t have the means to afford long-term care. That’s where Medicaid steps in. Called MassHealth in Massachusetts, this program can be a lifeline for the Commonwealth residents who need its […]
There’s nothing easy about the death of a loved one, and there’s no way to totally circumvent the difficult stuff. The only way out is through—and that’s true of both grief and probate. It’s very common for a decedent’s (person who died) estate to go through probate, the court-supervised process of proving a will and […]
For Massachusetts residents 65 and older, and those residents who need long-term care, MassHealth coverage can be a literal lifesaver. MassHealth (the Massachusetts version of Medicaid) will pay for necessary medical services, including in-home care and nursing-home residency. These benefits may be worth thousands of dollars per month, so MassHealth has stringent eligibility requirements. Your […]
Do you have a plan to pay for any long-term care you need in the coming years? If your answer is no, you might be a candidate to apply for MassHealth, the Medicaid program in Massachusetts. Few Americans have the resources to pay for years of nursing-home care. MassHealth coverage could pay for that care, […]
MassHealth can be both a blessing and a burden. For an eligible Massachusetts resident who needs long-term nursing care and lacks the resources to pay out of pocket, MassHealth coverage may be the solution that makes it possible to get that care. Considering long-term care in Massachusetts often costs upwards of $100,000 per year, many […]
Residents of long-term-care facilities rarely need cash. Room and board, housekeeping and activities are all included in the monthly cost of a nursing home. But what’s a resident to do when she runs out of her favorite perfume, or when he wants to give a birthday gift to a grandchild? If MassHealth is covering the […]
MassHealth coverage is, quite literally, a lifesaver. It allows Massachusetts residents to get the medical coverage and long-term nursing care that they need but can’t afford. But like most government-run programs, MassHealth applications require members to navigate a complicated process before they get covered. Here are just a few of the most common pitfalls to […]
On a difficulty scale from “applying for a library card” to “applying for citizenship,” applying for MassHealth falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a straightforward process that requires a dauntingly long application and a bit of a wait. The MassHealth application process often takes a few months from start to finish. For Massachusetts residents who […]
