Medi-Cal

California residents requiring long-term care, nursing home care or other expensive medical care can get help paying for their health care expenses by qualifying for Medi-Cal. Through Medi-Cal Planning with Elder Law Services of California, a person will be able to maintain their accustomed quality of life while preserving their assets, including the family home.  Judd Matsunaga of www.ElderLawCalifornia.com is available for a free consultation to discuss your needs and and answer questions about Medi-Cal and Asset Preservation. Call Judd at 1-800 403-6078.

Almost 25% of California’s senior citizens are covered by Medi-Cal, which is California’s version of Medicaid. Medi-Cal provides many of the state’s economically disadvantaged seniors with essential health insurance coverage, including coverage for some medical services which are not covered at all by Medicare.  Medi-Cal also provides a safety net for senior citizens who may require long-term care who have exhausted their own financial resources.

The leading costs for participants are prescription drugs and long-term care or nursing home care ( both of which are generally not covered under Medicare) and inpatient hospital care.   The growing population of California’s elderly is increasing the demand for long-term care.    With California’s budget problems and rising health care costs legislators are facing difficult decisions which will impact the level of health care available to senior citizens.

If you or your family members are concerned about qualifying for or being disqualified for California Med-Cal then you should call attorney Judd Matsunaga at Elder Law California for a free consultation regarding Medi-Cal Planning.

Judd Matsunaga is a Los Angeles-based attorney who specializes in a unique field of law, focusing on Medi-Cal planning and asset preservation.  Judd provides free consulations by phone or in person.  He can be reached by calling  Elder Law Services of California at 1-800 403-6078.

Visit Elder Law Services of California for more information on Med-Cal Planning & Estate Planning and contact Judd Matsunaga, an experienced attorney for a free consultation. You’ll find the most up-to-date answers to important questions about Medi-Cal and Medi-Care for California residents, including:

• Is Medi-Cal different than Medicare?
• Do I give up Medicare benefits while on Medi-Cal?
• What kind of things can you do to protect your assets and still qualify for Medi-Cal?
• What about the stay-at-home spouse?
• Can you keep your home?
• Can the state place a lien on your home to recover costs of care in a nursing home?

Through the use of Living Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Irrevocable Trusts, Family Limited Partnerships, and Charitable Gifting Strategies, Judd Matsunaga of Elder Law Services of California helps families preserve their wealth for future generations, minimize estate taxes, and avoid the expense and headaches of probate.

When it comes to estate planning, one of the most common concerns is how to properly manage estate taxes. Judd Matsunaga will help you plan for inheritance and all tax issues related to inheritance. Judd will make sure you have a plan that protects you and your family for years to come. Depending your your needs, we may use a combination of the following estate planning tools to define your estate plan:

* Wills: A simple will may be enough to protect your interests and provide for your family. We will let you know what a will can do for you.
* Trusts: There are a variety of trust options available for individuals and families, including revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts for the benefit of any disabled person, trusts for the benefit of children, and trusts for the benefit of pets.
* Financial Power of Attorney: By establishing a power of attorney, you can put your assets, finances, and even health care decisions in the hands of someone you trust.
* Advance Health Care Directive: You may reach a time when you are not in a position to make a decision regarding your own health care. By establishing a health care directive, you can make sure your best wishes are honored.
* Asset Protection: There are a variety of asset protection options beyond traditional wills and trusts. We can help you explore the possibility of incorporation or LLC and LLP formation for estate planning.
* Guardianships and Conservatorships: We help families obtain guardianships and conservatorships for loved ones who are no longer able to care for themselves and their property or make sound legal decisions.
* Durable Power Of Attorney: You may request that we draft a durable power of attorney which is awritten legal document that lets you esignate another person to act on your behalf, even in the event that you become disabled or incapacitated.

Probate

Probate is a legal process for settling an estate in accordance with the will of the deceased. Assets owned and registered in the individual name of the deceased that do not already have a beneficiary—including cash, investments, personal property, and real estate—make up what’s called the “probate estate.” These assets are controlled by the will and “pass through” the probate process in order for ownership to be transferred. All other assets “pass outside” the probate process.

Size of Estate

The manner in which estates are settled varies from state to state, but options also vary according to the estate’s overall value. A large estate generally involves having the state’s probate court validate the will or certify that the deceased died intestate which means ‘without a will’.

Settling a large estate also involves fulfilling other administrative matters, called “probating the estate.” Sometimes smaller estates can be settled through a more informal means of administration.

Judd Matsunaga is devoted to handling his clients’ advanced estate planning needs. If you have questions regarding the planning of your estate, or if you are about to start planning your estate, it is in your best interest to speak with a qualified attorney.

Call Judd Matsunaga, an experienced, estate-planning attorney at Elder Law Services of California today at (800) 403-6078 or send an e-mail to info@ elderlawcalifornia.com , and we will contact you to set up a free, initial consultation.

California residents who need to live in a long term care skilled nursing facility can benefit from Medi-Cal Planning.  Attorney Judd Matsunaga is an expert on Medi-Cal Planning and can be reached by calling  Elder Law Services of California at 1-800 403-6078.

Also see www.ElderLawCalifornia.com and www.JuddMatsunaga.com

Medi-Cal Planning is for California residents who cannot qualify for or afford long-term care insurance. In these cases a Trust with special language which includes legal Medi-Cal strategies can be drafted by an expert attorney in these matters. Judd Matsunaga at Elder Law Services of California can help you with these matters. You can reach Mr. Matsunaga by calling Elder Law Services of California at 1-800 403-6078.

Do you have questions about Medi-Cal Planning or Estate Planning?  Judd Matsunaga is an attorney experienced in Medi-Cal planning can advise you on the legal methods  for obtaining or accelerating Medi-Cal eligibility.
Judd can be reached by calling Elder Law Services of California at 1-800 403-6078.

Judd Matsunaga, founding partner of Elder Law Services of California, is available to provide California residents a free consultation on how Medi-Cal Planning can help pay for long-term care and nursing home expenses while preserving the family home.