Congress Considering Raising ABLE Account Age Threshold

In prior blog posts I told you about the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act. The 2014 legislation allows individuals with qualifying disabilities to save in tax-advantaged accounts. The main advantage of the account is that it allows eligible individuals to possess over $2,000 in assets, yet still qualify for means-tested federal benefits such as Medicaid and SSDI. Prior to this legislation, individuals dependent on these important federal programs had to keep their assets under $2,000, effectively impoverished, to qualify for these benefits. 

Also, one of the rules is that the beneficiary of an ABLE account must have developed his/her disability before age of 26. Since the introduction of the legislation, public pressure has mounted to raise the age of onset. Raising the age limit would allow those who have developed chronic debilitating medical conditions after that age, or those who have been disabled as a result of accidents sustained after that age, to open an ABLE account.

To remedy this problem, the "ABLE Age Adjustment Act" (Senate Bill 817) has been introduced in Congress. If passed, it will raise the threshold for disability onset from age 26 to age 46. You can read more about the bill and follow its progress by clicking here.


For details on how ABLE accounts work, see my prior blog post here. Read about the Florida ABLE program here.

With Comedian Tim Conway Incapacitated, A Familiar Family Drama Unfolds

On November 2 a Los Angeles judge is scheduled to decide who will serve as guardian for Tim Conway: His wife of 33 years, Charlene, or his daughter from his first marriage, Kelly Fusco. The case has been postponed until then while Conway recovers from a September operation to alleviate water on the brain.


We of a "certain age" will remember Conway's hilarious performances on the long-running Carol Burnett Show. Unfortunately, at 84, Conway is no longer up to his old antics. He is suffering from severe dementia and according to reports, is now nonverbal.


Kelly has alleged that Charlene is not providing appropriate care for her father, and is concerned that Charlene will move him into a substandard facility, and out of the skilled nursing facility he resided in up until his surgery. That facility provides registered nurses around the clock as well as speech therapy for Conway's swallowing difficulties. Conway also has a personal 24-hour caregiver. According to reports, the cost was $24,000 per month.


"The reason I am trying to get conservatorship," Kelly has said, "is to make sure that my dad can live his life to the fullest... The person making decisions for his care must be competent. There are others around him that have only their best interest at heart and not my dad's. That's why I want to be the one in charge of his care."


Charlene has denied Kelly's allegations and says she does not intend to move her husband to a different facility. She also claims her husband signed a durable power of attorney and health care documents giving her sole authority as his decision maker. While the case is pending, Kelly has been blocked from seeing her father. She is one of six children from Conway's first marriage.


Longtime readers of this blog know that in cases of second marriages, legal struggles of this nature are not uncommon. When it unfolds in a celebrity's family, it makes headlines. In recent years I have written about similar conflicts in the family of musician Glen Campbell, radio personality Casey Kasem, comic book titan Stan Lee, entertainment mogul Sumner Redstone, and actor Peter Falk.


Planning for incapacity is important for everyone, but as headlines of this nature always demonstrate, even more so when a second marriage is part of the family dynamic. Make sure you consult an experienced estate planning attorney to minimize the chances of this unfortunate situation occurring in your family. 

House Tax Bill Raises Concern Among Advocates for Seniors, The Disabled

Debate on the proposed tax overhaul is heating up. Both chambers of Congress have now produced their own bills which have significant differences.

Advocates for older Americans and the disabled have strongly criticized a key provision in the House's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill eliminates the itemized medical expense deduction, which currently allows taxpayers who spend more than 10% of their adjusted gross income on medical costs to deduct a portion from their taxes. It is anticipated that older Americans, the chronically ill and the disabled - those who tend to have high medical expenses - would be most impacted. Out-of-pocket costs for long-term care would not be deductible, nor would premiums for long-term care insurance, co-pays, etc.  

Only about 6% of filers - 8.8 million households - itemized medical expenses in 2015, reports the IRS. But of those who did, the AARP notes, 74% were over the age of 50, and half had incomes of $50,000 or less.

House Republicans counter the criticism by noting the small percentage of Americans who take the itemized deduction. They assert that overall, the proposed bill would be helpful to seniors. Republican Rep. George Holding of North Carolina states: "In the context of tax reform, this targeted deduction is no longer vital thanks to the other tax benefits for seniors and all Americans provided in this bill."

Another area of concern for some is the elimination of the Orphan Drug Tax Credit, which allows pharmaceutical and biotech companies to deduct up to 50% of the cost of clinical trials for treatments of rare diseases, such as Lou Gehrig's Disease and Huntington's Disease. Orphan drugs target diseases that affect less than 200,000 Americans.

Many are also worried about the House's plan to do away with the tax deduction for interest on student loans, which was claimed by 12 million filers in 2015. The tax break is available to single taxpayers who earn up to $80,000 per year, and married couples who earn up to $160,000 per year.

You can read the House bill here.

Read a summary of the Senate bill here.

Florida ABLE Accounts now available

Florida's ABLE program is now operational. Effective July 1 (with certain restrictions which I discuss below), an individual with a qualifying disability may preserve his/her eligibility for means-tested federal government benefits while retaining more than $2,000 in assets. Assets must be held in an ABLE account, a special type of tax-advantaged savings account authorized under the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (which I discussed previously here and here). A person who has established an ABLE account and who depends on vital government benefits such as Medicaid, SSI or SSDI will no longer be forced to remain impoverished to qualify for benefits, resulting in greater independence and better quality of life. Individuals who are able to join the workforce will be able to do so without fear of losing benefits. 

An ABLE account is a savings vehicle modeled on college savings plans. The disabled individual (or his/her parent, attorney in fact or other authorized individual) may open, contribute to and manage the account. The disabled individual is the owner and beneficiary. Growth is tax-free, and up to $100,000 of the account is considered a "non-countable resource" for Florida Medicaid eligibility purposes. Funds may be withdrawn tax-free for qualified disability expenses such as employment training, assistive technologies, transportation, special therapies, medical expenses, housing, education, etc. 

Visit ABLE United to learn more about eligibility requirements, how to open an account, types of investments available and more. Investment options may be chosen from pre-selected portfolios, or a custom portfolio may be put together from the options offered. 

As I noted above, there are some significant program restrictions:

• The individual must have developed the qualifying disability by his/her 26th birthday. (Advocates are hopeful that the age limit can be raised or eliminated in the future.)

• If the account owner has been receiving Medicaid benefits, the state must be paid back from any funds remaining in the account when the account-holder passes away. 

• No more than $14,000 per year may be contributed by any individual to the account. 

• Once the account reaches $418,000, no additional contributions can be made.

For these and additional reasons, families and individuals may still find a Special Needs Trust or a Pooled Trust a better choice, either in lieu of or in addition to an ABLE account. Unlike the ABLE account, there is no upper limit on contributions or total amount accumulated in a Special Needs Trust or Pooled Trust. 

Contact The Karp Law Firm if you wish to explore which option is best for your or your loved one's circumstances.

IRS eases up on ABLE account regulations

As I reported earlier this year, Congress passed legislation in 2014 authorizing the establishment of tax-free ABLE accounts (acronym for "Achieving a Better Life Experience"). The ABLE program permits a disabled individual to maintain assets above $2,000, the current limit in order to qualify for federal benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. 

Up to $100,000 may be placed in an ABLE account. Funds must be used for services and items not covered by federal programs. Anyone can contribute to the account. To qualify, the individual must have developed the disability before the age of 26. Read my original February 2015 post for details on eligibility rules.

Since the law's passage, the IRS has been drafting regulations that will serve as guidelines for the states to implement their own programs. Some of the proposed regulations have come under fire from the states and disability advocates as being overly burdensome and impractical, and the IRS has backed off. For example:

• The IRS originally required the financial institution housing the ABLE account to procure the taxpayer ID of each person who contributed to the account. This requirement has been scrapped, although the institution must put controls in place to prevent overfunding of the account.

• The initial regulations required a disabled person seeking to establish an ABLE account to provide a doctor's note documenting the individual's diagnosis. The revised rules require that the individual must sign an oath, under penalty of perjury, indicating that he/she possesses such a note and is eligible to open an ABLE account. 

• The financial institution housing the account will not be required to document distributions, as the original regulations required. Instead, the beneficiary must provide documentation that the funds have been used for disability-related expenses.

Read the IRS' revised interim regulations here. 

Read the Social Security Administration's detailed program instructions (POMS, Program Operations Manual System here.) 

Update 12/20/15: Under the new federal budget bill just signed into law by President Obama, the residency requirement for ABLE accounts has been abolished. This means that you may establish an ABLE account in any state that authorizes such accounts. The states may differ in their fee structures, investment options, etc., and thus, you will be able to select the states where ABLE regulations best suit your needs. The Florida ABLE program should be up and running sometime in 2016.

ABLE Act allows people with disabilities to save and still keep government benefits

The recently passed ABLE Act ("Achieving a Better Life Experience") amends section 529 of the IRS code, allowing people with disabilities to save for the future and remain eligible for means-tested federal benefits. Prior to passage, special needs individuals who accumulated over $2,000 in assets would lost vital benefits such as Medicaid and SSI. Under the new ABLE act, these people will no longer be forced to keep themselves effectively impoverished.

The law allows for the establishment of tax-advantaged savings accounts for the benefit of a disabled individual. The funds in an ABLE account, just like the funds in a Special Needs Trust, may be used only for those services and items not provided by the government, for example, special therapies, housing, transportation, job training, assistive technologies, etc. Any number of people may contribute to the account, but a disabled individual may have only one such account. The accounts do have certain limitations, though:

• Any amount in excess of $100,000 in the account may cause a reduction in government benefits.

• No more than $14,000 may be deposited into the account annually.

• The beneficiary's disability must have developed before the beneficiary reached the age of 26.

• Upon the death of the beneficiary, the funds in the account must be used to repay Medicaid.

Given its limitations, the ABLE account can serve as an adjunct to, rather than a substitute, for a special needs trust or pooled trust. 

The accounts will become available when each state works out its administrative apparatus to comply with the new law.

Good news for military families with a disabled child: Survivor Benefit Plan funds may now be left to Special Needs Trust

Congress has given military families and their disabled children an early holiday gift. Under the recently passed 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, servicemen and women now can name a Special Needs Trust as beneficiary of their Survivor Benefit Plan.

As I noted in my July 2013 post, until now military personnel could defer up to 55% of their retirement benefits and leave it to a surviving spouse or child. However, the benefits had to be left directly to the individual. This presented a vexing problem if the benefits were left to a special needs child: the very funds intended to assist with the child's long-term needs would disqualify the child from receiving essential supports through means-tested programs such as Social Security Disability and Medicaid.

Now, a provision in the 2015 Defense Authorization Act allows a deceased person's Survivor Benefits Plan to be put into a Special Needs Trust (also known as a Supplemental Needs Trust) for a disabled child. The funds in a properly drafted Special Needs Trusts are not counted when determining an individual's eligibility for means-tested programs, and thus will not jeopardize the child's government benefits. Well done, Congress.

You can read the text of the legislation here - it is very long, and you will need to scroll to page 264 for the section that concerns the new provision.

New legislation would help families of children with autism, other disabilities

Over the years, growing numbers of parents and grandparents have requested our help to create estate plans that provide for an autistic child. The statistics bear out what we see in our practice: According to the CDC, in 2010 one in 68 American children fell on the autism spectrum, up from 1 in 150 a decade earlier. The dramatic increase over the last decades is only partially explained by better screening and diagnosis.

Fortunately, many on the autism spectrum go on to lead fully functional lives. But for others, it is a severe and chronic disability that requires loved ones to make thoughtful legal and financial plans. One of the strategies we recommend to parents in these circumstances is the creation of a special needs trust to benefit the child.  You can read more about special needs trusts here.

We caution our clients against using a UGMA (United Gift to Minors Act) account as a vehicle to set aside money for a disabled grandchild - in fact, for any grandchild. A UGMA account is easy to set up, but beyond that, this type of account has little to commend it. Read more about UGMA accounts.

A recent and hopeful development in the fight against autism is the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, currently under consideration in Congress. The bill would allow the creation of non-taxable savings accounts that may be used to cover medical and other expenses of disabled children, while preserving the individual's access to key government benefits and services like Medicaid. Read more about the ABLE Act here. To contact your congressperson in support of the legislation, click here. To contact your senator, click here. 

Also this past week, funding was renewed for the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (Autism CARES, for short) that had been set to expire in September. The Act provides funds for education and research, and for the first time, calls for the appointment of someone at the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee all autism-related initiatives. 

The Perils of Falling: Goodbye to The Brady Bunch's Ann Davis

Actress Ann B. Davis, best known for her role as the glib housekeeper on The Brady Bunch television show, passed away yesterday as a result of a fall. She was knocked unconscious when she fell in the bathroom at her San Antonio home, and passed away shortly thereafter. Davis, 88, had used a walker in recent years but was otherwise in good health. 

What a shame. And, perhaps, preventable. As my clients well know, I am always reminding them about watching their step and avoiding falls. In fact, my monthly article in April's Boomer Times and Senior Life dealt with this very subject. As a Florida elder law attorney, I have known many reasonably healthy older people who have lost their lives after a preventable fall. I have also seen many cases in which a fall - often preventable - has led to permanent disability, which in addition to its physical and psychological toll,  wreaked financial havoc on both patient and family. 

There are no guarantees in life. That's why planning for disability should be a part of everyone's estate plan. But it's preferable to avoid becoming disabled in the first place. First on your list: watch your step, rely on any mobility devices you have, and make sure your environment is a safe and secure one. For additional information, check out my article in Boomer Times and Senior Life.

Social Security Compassionate Allowance list expanded

Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease is just one of several hundred conditions that the Social Security Administration includes in its "Compassionate Allowances" list. If an applicant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) suffers from one of the conditions on this list, the Social Security Administration says it will process the application in weeks, not the months or even years a typical application may require. Obviously it can be enormously helpful to the applicant, the family and caregivers to get funds sooner rather than later.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is designed to assist those who have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund during their working lives. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for those age 65 or older, or blind or disabled persons of any age who have limited income and resources. 

Recently the Social Security Administration expanded its Compassionate Allowance list to include several additional conditions. For a full list, check out the SSA website.

New hybrid policies may be good alternative to traditional long-term care insurance

In March I gave tips for preventing or resolving the difficulties that may arise when trying to collect benefits from older, traditional long-term care insurance policies. In this post I describe the new "hybrid" long-term care policies that have come to the market as the industry has matured. These new policies overcome many of the issues that beset holders of the older policies.

Among the attractive features of the new policies is their greater affordability. In fact, if you have an existing annuity or life insurance policy, you may be able to convert it to a new policy with a long-term care rider without any additional expense.

Why do you need long-term care protection?

The 2014 Genworth Cost of Care survey reveals that the median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home in Florida is now a staggering $91,615.00; a semi-private room, $83,950.00. If you have worked hard to build a nest egg and want to make sure your family isn't wiped out by long-term care costs, long-term care insurance may be the answer.

While there is no way to know if any one individual will need long-term care, statistics show that it is a significant risk. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, someone turning 65 today has an almost 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and supports in their remaining years. Women need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.3 years). One-third of today's 65-year-olds may never need long-term care support, but one fifth will need it for longer than five years. 

Features of the traditional policies

Before discussing the new hybrid policies, let's list the main features of the older policies, so we have a basis for comparison. With the traditional policy:

• You pay an annual premium, either in a lump sum or in installments.

• You continue to pay the premiums to keep the policy in force until you either file a claim (assuming you have a waiver of premium clause in the policy), or until you pass away.

• If you fail to pay premiums, the policy is forfeited. There are no refunds. You derive no benefit from the premiums you  paid to date.

• The insurance company has the right to raise premiums at any time by seeking approval from the State Insurance Commissioner.

Features of  hybrid policies

The new hybrid policies fall into two types: annuity-type policies, and life insurance policies with a long-term care rider.

All of the annuity-type policies, and most of the life insurance-type policies, provide for a single lump sum payment at the inception of the policy. You do not have to pay anything beyond that, ever. The premium and benefits are fixed and can never be altered by the insurance company. 

If you never file a claim, depending on the policy, you may be entitled to a return of most of the premium on an annuity-type policy, or a death benefit greater than the premium on a life insurance-type policy.

If you wish to cancel a policy of either type, you may be entitled to a substantial return. 

Also, if you have an existing life insurance policy or annuity, you may be able to exchange it for a hybrid policy tax-free, without having to pay anything for an additional benefit. You will, of course, have to pass a physical exam. The life insurance policy may offer a lower death benefit than the existing policy, but a substantial long-term care benefit.

Traditional Long-Term Care Policy vs. Hybrid Policy

	Traditional Policy	Hybrid Policy
Premiums	You pay the premium annually or in periodic installments.	Annuities and most life insurance policies: you pay a lump sum at the inception of the policy. No additional premiums thereafter. Some life insurance policies may offer annual premiums.
Policy Lapse	Policy will lapse if you fail to keep up with the premiums. No refunds. No benefits from premiums paid to date.	Policy remains in force after initial payment, except life insurance policies with annual premiums, which must be paid.
Premium Increases	Premium increases may occur if company gets approval for increase from State Insurance Commissioner.	No increases.
Filing a Claim	When you file a claim and if your policy has a waiver of premium clause, you will not have to continue to pay premiums.	With a lump sum annuity or life insurance policy, you may owe no additional premiums. With the life insurance policies that have additional premiums, you will have to make payments even after you have filed a claim, unless you have a waiver of premium clause in your policy.
If You Never File a Claim	No return on what you’ve paid in.	On an annuity type policy, you will be entitled to a lump-sum payment when you cash in the policy, or upon your death. With a life insurance policy, you will be entitled to a death benefit as scheduled.

 

Older long-term care policies: tips on collecting the benefits your loved one deserves

Stay healthy: That's the best way to protect your assets, your family and your independence. Except for one  problem: we live in the real world. Even for those who diligently take care of their health, time marches on. There's a good chance that at some point we - or our parents or other loved ones - will require long-term care, whether at home, in an assisted living arrangement, or in a nursing home. Long-term care considerations must be part of any conversation I have with clients about asset preservation, because the costs are so great and can quickly devastate a middle class family's finances. According to a 2013 Genworth survey, the average national cost of a private room in a nursing home is now upwards of $83,000 annually.

Securing long-term care insurance is always a good idea. However, not everyone can pass the physical. And although tax deductions are available for premiums on qualified policies, long-term care insurance doesn't come cheap. So if you've been paying all along and the time arrives to file a claim, you shouldn't have to go into battle to collect benefits. But sadly, with some older policies, that can happen. Some policies were written ambiguously when the industry was in its infancy, when carriers really didn't know what to expect. Now, it's coming back to haunt some policyholders.

A recent Forbes article by Richard Eisenberg pinpoints problems families may face when trying to collect benefits, and offers tips to deal with insurers who may be reluctant to pay up. Below are some of his main recommendations, and mine, if you are filing a claim now for a loved one, or just want to be in the best position possible if and when you do:

• Read the policy VERY carefully, to make sure that you document the claim in a manner that is consistent with the policy's criteria. If you don't have a copy of the policy, ask the carrier for it and read it thoroughly before submitting the claim. Even if you are currently in good health and not in need of benefits, I recommend that you review your policy immediately and meet with a qualified insurance agent familiar with long-term care insurance, to see if the policy meets all your needs, and if additional long-term care options exist. (In my next post I will tell you about other types of policies, known as "hybrid policies," that may be available to you.) 

• Some insurance companies have specific requirements for the type of care provider they will cover. For example, some older policies will not pay a spouse for caregiving services. Others will only pay benefits if the caregiving facility has a certain type of license. Again, read the policy carefully to make sure the caregiver meets the stated coverage criteria. And of possible, research this before your loved one enters a  facility. Contact the insurance carrier and verify that your understanding is correct, because the wording on older policies can be vague. It's vital that you and the carrier are on the same page. 

• If a policy has lapsed because your parent or other loved one failed to pay the premiums due to cognitive impairment, you may be able to get the policy reinstated within a limited time frame, assuming you can provide the proper medical documentation. In Florida, the grace period is five months. Here is an excerpt of the Florida Statute 627.94073 that deals with reinstatement due to cognitive impairment:

If a policy is canceled due to nonpayment of premium, the policyholder is entitled to have the policy reinstated if, within a period of not less than 5 months after the date of cancellation, the policyholder or any secondary addressee designated pursuant to subsection (2) demonstrates that the failure to pay the premium when due was unintentional and due to the policyholder’s cognitive impairment, loss of functional capacity, or continuous confinement in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living facility for a period in excess of 60 days. Policy reinstatement shall be subject to payment of overdue premiums. The standard of proof of cognitive impairment or loss of functional capacity shall not be more stringent than the benefit eligibility criteria for cognitive impairment or the loss of functional capacity, if any, contained in the policy and certificate. The insurer may require payment of an interest charge not in excess of 8 percent per year for the number of days elapsing before the payment of the premium, during which period the policy shall continue in force if the demonstration of cognitive impairment is made. If the policy becomes a claim during the 180-day period before the overdue premium is paid, the amount of the premium or premiums with interest not in excess of 8 percent per year may be deducted in any settlement under the policy.

• If a policy has lapsed and you have a dispute with the insurance company, contact the Florida State Insurance Commissioner to investigate your claim at 1-877-693-5236. To prevent this kind of situation from occurring in the first place, it's a good idea for one or more adult children to be copied on any lapse notices and other communications from the carrier.

• Think ahead: If you are healthy now, create a durable property power of attorney to authorize an adult child or another trusted individual to handle your financial affairs, so that he/she can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. At a minimum, the policyholder should have a signed statement authorizing another party to handle insurance-related claims. To avoid future problems, submit your power of attorney or the signed statement to the insurance company to make sure it will be honored. Don't wait. Once you are incapacitated, it's too late to give someone else the authorization to handle these matters for you.

• If you hire a home health aide for mom or dad, make sure the employee maintains a daily log, referred to as "daily care notes." Many insurance companies require this documentation. Contact the insurance company before you hire an aide, or as soon after as is practical, to determine what type of information the carrier requires, and if there is a specific form that needs to be completed.

• When you file a claim for your loved one, the insurance carrier will send a representative to asses the health of the insured. It is possible that mom or dad will be too embarrassed, too proud or just too forgetful to accurately report his/her limitations. An adult child or someone else familiar with the insured should be present at the assessment, to make sure the representative gets a true picture of the situation.

 You can read the original Forbes article here.

In my next post, I will tell you about several new types of "hybrid" policies that the insurance industry is offering. Whether you currently have no insurance or have a traditional long-term care insurance policy, these new products are worth a look.

Elderly/Disabled veterans not required to have service-connected disability to qualify for V.A.Pension, Pension with Aid and Attendance: Watch the video

Attorney Karp collaborated with the Elder Care Resource Center on a video that explains Veterans Pension, and Pension with Aid and Attendance. Eligibility for these benefits does NOT require a service-connected disability, as many people assume!

Long-Term Care Commission meets, recommendations due end of September

The Federal Commission on Long-Term Care held its first meeting at the end of June. It has a scant three months to wrap up business. By the end of September, the panel must submit recommendations on how to finance long-term care services for seniors and the disabled. There are six Republicans and nine Democrats on the commission. Dr. Bruce Chernof heads the group.

Given the recent history of animus between the two political parties, it's little wonder that many in Washington are skeptical about the group's chances of success. I know one thing: something must be done. As a Florida elder law attorney, I meet daily with families in agony over how to finance care for their elderly parent, spouse or other loved one. 

Right now, the enormous expense of long-term care is threatening Americans' savings and security. The Medicaid long-term care program, which covers the expense for most people receiving long-term custodial custodial care in nursing homes, cannot keep up with the demand from our aging population. At the same time, long-term care insurance has become more expensive and difficult to obtain.

According to a report submitted to the commission by the AARP, this bad situation is only going to get exponentially worse. Blame demographics: The population bulge that is the Baby Boomers provide much of the family care that keeps elderly parents out of nursing homes. However, as the Boomers age and themselves need long-term care, there will be fewer members in the next generation to serve as family caregivers. The AARP 's chart illustration the problem:

You can read the original AARP report here.

The commission will probably not be the final word or have all the solutions. But even if it is just the first step in the long-overdue national discussion about this serious issue, it will have accomplished a great deal.

If you are concerned about long-term care costs, we can advise you about the new alternatives to traditional long-term care policies. Traditional long-term care policies require an annual premium and can have their premiums raised; moreover, if you do not file a claim all of the premiums are lost to the insurance company. There are newer types of policies available that cannot raise the premium, and guarantee the return of most of your premium, and in some cases even more if you do not use your coverage. Alternatively, our Florida elder law attorneys can assist in certain cases in planning for Medicaid and/or Veterans benefits for long-term care costs. Contact us for advice.

Karp Law Firm staff help Special Olympians

Several staff members of The Karp Law Firm volunteered at the Saturday, Sept. 22 bowling event sponsored by Special Olympics of Palm Beach County. Firm administrator Audrey Yeager, estate planning paralegals Khristina Iwasz and Margaret Sajiun, and client coordinator Elizabeth Lebron pitched in to assist the Special Olympian bowlers and keep the games organized.

Margaret Sajiun assists a bowler

Khristina Iwasz keeps an eye on the ball along with a Special Olympian

Audrey Yeager

Elizabeth Lebron helps a Special Olympian at the lanes

Audrey Yeager and Margaret Sajiun