In this article I’m going to pull back the curtain on the Long-term Care Medi-Cal application process.
 
There are three separate processes. The first is the original application. Second is the annual redetermination and the last is the recovery questionnaire.
 
The goal with the original application is to get approval in the shortest time frame possible. The annual redetermination goal is to maintain eligibility and with recovery, it is to avoid recovery against the beneficiary’s estate for benefits paid out. 

Paying for college can be daunting but remember that your child will have scholarships and loans to fill the gap between what you can contribute and the total cost they’ll have to pay. Whatever you can contribute will be valuable. Also remember that in the years ahead you’ll gain interest on every dollar you put away, so even small amounts can add up. 

​​With nursing home costs in California exceeding $100,000 a year, draining one’s life savings in a very short period of time is a real possibility.
 
No one wants to end up in a nursing home but based on the way that our health care system works, you may end up there like it or not.

​​Even for a cliché the idea that seniors are baffled by technology is, well, old. Maybe even outdated. A 2017 report from the Pew Research Center suggests that older demographics are becoming more tech-savvy. This isn’t surprising when you look at the variety of ways technology can add to your quality of life.

​According to the Center of Disease Control, there are many similarities between the activity needs of adults and seniors. Regardless of age, you should try and exercise a little every day, for at least 150 minutes per week to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of disease and illness.

​Summer has gone and the chill of winter is in the air. With the change of seasons comes the time of year when seniors are more vulnerable to illness.

Sometimes it means a hospital stay followed by rehab care then long-term care in a nursing home.

With the average monthly long-term care facility costs from $7,000 - $10,000, many families are not prepared to deal with this cost. An option that many choose to help pay for this cost is Long-Term Care (LTC) Medi-Cal.

But, as with many government programs the amount of paperwork to fill out can be overwhelming. One of the most difficult tasks for the family is the gathering of the required information.

Being prepared for the unexpected is the smart thing to do.

​As baby boomers age, the number of people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s is increasing. Right now, 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. If you (or a family member) has been recently diagnosed, you may be worried about how you will care for yourself in the future.
 
The silver lining to an early diagnosis is that you can prepare and plan for dementia and Alzheimer’s to ensure you can still enjoy your life, and be financially stable, even when you’re struggling with memory and cognitive issues. 

​​Determining the most appropriate level of care for your aging parent or loved one can be a difficult task. With so many care options available – from home care, to assisted living, to nursing or specialized facilities – the eldercare system can be confusing to navigate and may leave you feeling overwhelmed when trying to decide what option is best for your loved one.  This process is often emotionally draining, especially if your parent’s wishes and opinions are not in line with your own. 
 
Fortunately, there are resources available to you and you do not have to make this difficult decision alone. 

​Long-term planning for retirement isn’t an easy task. You have to ask yourself a lot of hard questions, determine your priorities, and take a long, hard look at your finances. It can be a tough process, but here in California you have more options than you might realize - especially when it comes to healthcare.
 
To get started on your long-term care planning, here are five things that you need to know: