Elder Law & Medi-Cal

Prepare for your senior loved ones’ golden years
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Elder Law & Medi-Cal Attorney In Monterey, California

Protect Your Loved One When They’re Most Vulnerable

When you are planning ahead for your retirement years, it is important to consider end-of-life realities. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, seven out of every 10 people that are 65 years of age and older will eventually require help with their activities of daily living. Of course, some individuals will be able to get the assistance that they need from family members for a while, but many elders will ultimately reside in nursing homes.


If you work and pay taxes for at least 10 years, you will qualify for Medicare when you reach the age of 65 under currently existing laws. This program will provide a strong health insurance underpinning, but it is important to understand the fact that there are out-of-pocket expenses for purchases, procedures, and services that are covered. These would include deductibles, copayments, and monthly premiums.


For most people that plan ahead effectively to be prepared for retirement, the out-of-pocket Medicare expenses are manageable. However, there is a huge gap that can fly under the radar until you learn all the facts. The Medicare program will pay for convalescent care after an injury or illness, but it will not assist with custodial care costs. This is the type of care that you would receive in a nursing home, and you could potentially receive custodial care that is rendered by an in-home health aide.

Contact John D. Laughton, A Professional Law Corporation to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today by calling 831-649-1122

Long-Term Care Costs

This lack of coverage is very significant from a financial planning perspective, because nursing home care is exorbitantly expensive. Our estate planning and elder law practice is in Monterey, California. At the present time, you can expect to pay somewhere in the vicinity of $100,000 for a year in a private room in a nursing home in our area, and the figure could be higher if you need care a number of years from now.


Even if you can remain in your own home receiving assistance from a home health aide, the budgetary implications are considerable. The current costs are hovering around $50,000 annually for a qualified, licensed home health aide in our part of the country. Once again, these figures have been trending upward, so in-home care may be considerably more expensive in the future.

Medi-Cal Planning

Medi-Cal is another government health insurance program that exists to provide coverage for people that have very limited financial resources. It will pay for long-term care if you can obtain eligibility, but there is a low asset limit of just $2000. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that some things that you may own do not count, including your home.


When it comes to the assets that are countable, you could strategically divest yourself of direct ownership of resources with future Medi-Cal eligibility in mind. However, this takes careful planning, because there is a look-back period. You are penalized and your eligibility is delayed if you give away assets within 30 months of the submission of your application for Medi-Cal coverage. This is why measured, informed advance preparations are necessary to enable you to obtain eligibility at the right time without losing anything in the process.


We Are Here to Help!

Our firm would be glad to provide assistance if you are interested in Medi-Cal planning or any other elder law matter. To request a consultation, click the button below or give us a call at 831-649-1122.

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Elder Law Resources

  • Administration on Aging

    Administration on Aging

    This site includes information and resources designed for older Americans and their families as well as those concerned about providing opportunities and services to enrich the lives of older people and support their independence.

  • ALS Association

    ALS Association

    The ALS Association (ALSA) is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (often called Lou Gehrig’s disease). The mission of The ALS Association is to find a cure for and improve living with ALS.

  • Alzheimer’s Association

    Alzheimer’s Association

    The oldest and largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to research for the causes, cure, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and to providing education and support services to Alzheimer’s patients, their families and caregivers.

  • American Cancer Society

    American Cancer Society

    A nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has state divisions and more than 3,400 local offices.

  • American Geriatrics Society

    American Geriatrics Society

    The premier professional organization of health care providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older adults. With an active membership of over 6,000 health care professionals, the AGS has a long history of effecting change in the provision of health care for older adults.

  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly known as The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), is the federal agency responsible for administering Medicaid, Medicare, HIPAA, and several other health-related programs. They now have an increased emphasis on responsiveness to beneficiaries and providers, and quality improvement.

  • Department of Veterans Affairs

    Department of Veterans Affairs

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a spectrum of geriatric and extended care services to veterans enrolled in its health care system.

  • Medicare.gov

    Medicare.gov

    The official U.S. Government website for people on Medicare. This website gives up-to-date information regarding nursing homes, including the address, and if they are Medicare and Medicaid approved. They also offer information on prescription drug programs, hospital comparisons, and how to apply for benefits.

  • National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

    National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

    A non-profit, association of professional practitioners whose purpose is the development, advancement, and promotion of humane and dignified social, psychological, and health care for the elderly and their families through counseling, treatment, and the delivery of concrete services by qualified, certified providers. GCM has more than 1,500 nationwide.

  • Social Security Administration

    Social Security Administration

    The official website of the Social Security Administration.

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