A recent change in Medicare's skilled maintenance policy marks a big step forward for beneficiaries who need therapeutic care (physical, occupational, or speech therapy) to maintain their current condition or prevent decline of health. After the January 24th settlement of the Medicare Improvement Standard case Jimmo v. Sebelius, Medicare is required to cover "skilled maintenance care" to maintain a patient's current health status and prevent further deterioration of the patient's functional abilities.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the figures for Medicare costs in 2013, including new premiums, deductibles, and co-payments. You can find the information about Parts A, B, C, and D in the 2013 Medicare Costs PDF available on the Medicare website. Slightly higher premiums are not the only changes in 2013. Medicare is now covering more preventive care services and reducing the co-pay for prescription drugs to help with the prescription drug coverage gap. Complete information about both new and old benefits is available in the official U.S. government Medicare handbook.  Here's a brief overview of some of this year's changes.

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Figuring out how to manage healthcare costs after retirement is one of the most difficult and challenging processes in adult life. Everyone needs to develop a plan because the future is unpredictable and most of us will incur an increasing number of healthcare costs as we age. Unlike many of our major expenses, healthcare costs are neither optional nor something we want to compromise on. Once we become unable to work full-time, we have to have some means of covering our healthcare expenses so that we can receive the services we need, preserve our quality of life, and not become a burden on our relatives and other loved ones.

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This October, Elder Law of East Tennessee is joining Elder Law attorneys nationwide in recognizing National Special Needs Law Month. Unlike traditional lawyers, Special Needs Law attorneys focus on the issues that affect a particular segment of the population - generally the elderly and disabled - rather than a particular area of law. When clients visit a Special Needs Law attorney, they generally present problems beyond the need for a will or a power of attorney, and a Special Needs Law attorney takes a holistic approach to meeting these needs. Special Needs Law attorneys are familiar with the multifaceted aspect of this complex area of the law, as well as the network of services and providers who can assist their clients effectively.

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