Determining Your Eligibility and Estimated Benefits
You can find out how many quarters of coverage you have accumulated and what your estimated benefit will be at the time of re...
Read moreWhat would we do without our smartphones, tablets, and computers? These internet-connected devices allow us to connect instantly with friends and family, order food, hail rides, pay our credit card bills, and so much more.
Our devices offer so many benefits and have become such an integral part of our lives that we often forget how much easier they make it for people to steal our information or take advantage of us.
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According to Forbes, there was a 72 percent increase in data breaches between 2021 and 2023. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics show the reported global losses due to internet scams has grown from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2023.
Not only are hackers trying to get sensitive information and money directly from us but they are also targeting the computer systems of government agencies, their contractors, and other companies that store our personal information.
On August 16, The New York Times and The Washington Post both reported on a data breach at National Public Data (NPD), a company that stores personal information for background checks. NPD confirmed that Social Security numbers and other sensitive data had been compromised. Not much information about this breach has been disclosed, so the full extent of the consequences is not yet clear. NPD recommends consumers watch their financial accounts closely and put fraud alerts on their files at the biggest credit bureaus.
In early September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) disclosed that there had been a data breach in 2023 that included personal data, such as protected health information, Medicare claims data, and personally identifiable information. The breach happened when hackers exploited a vulnerability in software used by Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS), a CMS contractor.
The software vulnerability was quickly fixed but not before an unauthorized third party was able to copy files from the system. CMS and WPS are mailing letters to affected individuals to notify them of the data breach and what they can do to protect themselves.
In 2004, the National Cyber Security Division of the Department of Homeland Security and the nonprofit National Cyber Security Alliance started observing October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. October 2024 will be the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between government agencies and private companies to promote cybersecurity awareness among internet users, encourage the public to reduce their online security risk, and generate discussion about national and global cyber threats. Learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month and how you can protect yourself.
In light of recent cyberattacks and in recognition of this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, consider some of the ways you can strengthen your online passwords.
If remembering all your unique passwords or having to access them each time you need them becomes too cumbersome, you can try using a password manager to simplify the process. A password manager is a tool that helps you store, manage, and generate strong passwords for your online accounts. You only need to remember one strong "master" password, then the password manager automatically fills in login credentials when needed.
Here’s why using a password manager is helpful:
Numerous reliable password managers are available, such as LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password, and Bitwarden. Features offered by such companies may include multifactor authentication (MFA), secure password sharing, and dark web monitoring to alert you if your information has been compromised.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to evaluate your online security practices. By creating strong passwords or using a password manager you can reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. In an increasingly connected world, proactive cybersecurity measures like these are essential.
If you have questions about how to protect yourself online or you want to report a cyber issue, visit the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) website. You can also contact your estate planning attorney. They can discuss your specific situation and potential options with you.
You can find out how many quarters of coverage you have accumulated and what your estimated benefit will be at the time of re...
Read moreTransferring assets to qualify for Medicaid can make you ineligible for benefits for a period of time. Before making any tran...
Read moreAginginPlace.org provides a freely available, medically reviewed guide on preventing falls, with lifestyle, mobility, and hom...
Read moreMany people believe that Medicare covers nursing home stays. In fact, Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is limited to...
Read moreIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MOREIn addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.
READ MORETo be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.
READ MORESpouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MORECareful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.
READ MOREIf steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.
READ MOREThere are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREMost states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.
READ MOREApplying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.
READ MOREMedicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREDistinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.
READ MORELearn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.
READ MOREUnderstand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.
READ MOREWe need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MORELearn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREUnderstand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.
READ MOREWe explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.
READ MOREFind out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MOREGet a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.
READ MORELearn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.
READ MOREExplore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.
READ MORE