Deducting Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums in 2023

Seniors who require assistance with daily activities and qualify for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports often end up on waiting lists to receive home-based care or in community settings. This forces many to live in institutional facilities, isolating them from their communities and incurring significant costs.Benefits of Aging in Place and HCBS ActHowever, the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, aims to change this by providing better funding and resources for seniors seeking care at home or in their communities. Not only does aging in place offer emotional and physical benefits, but it also saves money.Key Provisions of HCBS Access ActThe HCBS Access Act seeks to provide enhanced Medicaid funding, grant funding for states developing home care capacity, resources to ensure professional caregivers have stable jobs and wages, training for family caregivers, and improved quality evaluation. With the support of sixteen U.S. representatives and advocacy organizations for older adults, this legislation could make a significant change in bridging the gap between institutional and community-based care.Importance of Consulting with an Elder Law AttorneyNavigating Medicaids complex waiver programs can be daunting. Thats why consulting with an elder law attorney, who is well-versed in the subject, can help ease the process. The proposed Better Care Better Jobs Act is looking to provide additional funding to home care workers while also creating new job opportunities in the field. As the demand for long-term care continues to rise alongside life expectancy, this will be a crucial area of focus in the coming years.Investing in Home-Based Care for SeniorsBy investing in home-based care, not only can we support seniors independence and autonomy, but we can also create better job opportunities and support for family caregivers.Advocating for Our SeniorsThe HCBS Access Act and Better Care Better Jobs Act are steps in the right direction and can help improve the lives of senior citizens who need assistance. With adequate funding, training, and resources in place, we can ensure that our seniors have the care they deserve. It is up to us to make sure these initiatives become a reality and that seniors receive the quality care they are entitled toat home or in their communities. We must continue to advocate for our seniors and ensure their needs are met. Many of them have sacrificed for us, and it is time we do the same for them.

Snowbirds are those who winter in the warmer climates like Florida. They typically own a home here while maintaining a more permanent residence in another state. What happens when a decedent leaves property in Florida to out-of-state heirs? A Tampa Probate Attorney from Mortellaro Law explores how Ancillary Probate works. What is Ancillary Probate?Ancillary probate refers to a probate proceeding thats required in addition to the primary probate proceeding that takes place in your home state. This secondary probate is necessary because the probate court in the decedents home state has no legal jurisdiction over property thats situated elsewhere. Florida ancillary probate proceedings in Florida are necessary to transfer ownership of in-state property to heirs or beneficiaries residing in other states. Ancillary means subordinate or supplementary; the primary probate proceeding in a decedents home state is known as a domiciliary probate because their domicile or primary home was in that state. Unlike other assets like bank accounts, retirement accounts, or personal property, real estate must be resolved by the state in which it is located. Families and beneficiaries of seasonal Florida residents need assistance from a local Tampa Probate Attorney when their loved one passes away and leaves them property in the Sunshine State. How Does Ancillary Probate Work?Ancillary probate typically works like any other probate case. One notable challenge can be finding a qualified personal representative to serve as the ancillary probate executor. A Tampa Probate Attorney is commonly sought to serve in this capacity, although sometimes a nonresident can be named. The Florida probate court will then issue Letters of Administration to the qualified ancillary personal representative. The ancillary personal representative can choose to file for a summary or formal probate administration:Summary Administration: This process is available when the net equity of the Florida property is less than $75,000. It is somewhat simpler and faster. Formal Administration: This process is required when the net equity of the Florida property exceeds $75,000. Under Florida law, you will need a Tampa Probate Attorney to guide these proceedings. The ancillary personal representative will also need to file the appropriate probate documents with the court, send out notices to creditors, handle any debts, and receive authority to distribute the Florida property to beneficiaries according to the will. Get Help from a Local Tampa Probate Attorney with Ancillary Probate AdministrationMost Florida real estate handled in ancillary probate exceeds $75,000 in value, so you will need the help of a Tampa Probate Attorney to comply with Florida state law. A seasoned probate attorney from Mortellaro Law can help you take advantage of some Florida laws that can help shield you from excessive taxes or some creditor claims. You may even be able to take advantage of homestead status in certain circumstances. A Tampa Probate Attorney can help you save travel time and money because they are local and licensed to handle probate matters in Florida. For example, closing the property must be done in person by the personal representative. When that person is located nearby, this is much simpler. Court hearings or other matters with your personal representative can be handled via videoconference. Handling ancillary probate matters when you live in another state can be confusing and costly. Mortellaro Law has the knowledge and experience to serve as your decedents personal representative and handle in-state requirements smoothly. We can help ensure that your loved ones Florida real estate is handled properly and that you enjoy its full benefit. Contact Mortellaro Law today at 813-291-0734 and request a consultation. 

With a new year, comes new cybercrimes. While technology is our friend in helping us keep connected with our loved ones, there are some sobering threats that can make it our foe. Unfortunately, internet-based crime is increasing at an alarming rate with a 64% increase in email threats year-over-year in 2020 with older people being impacted the most. Cybercriminals and spammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and more new users of technology such as seniors are falling victim to their attacks. The statistics are staggering. According to the FBI 2020 Internet Crime Report, there was a 27% year-over-year increase in cyber fraud losses totaling $1.8 billion, as reported by individuals over 50 years old. Moreover, it appears that these cybercriminals specifically target senior citizens not only because are they are less aware of technology scams, but also, they are perceived to have larger financial assets than other groups.Anytime you use a computer, smartphone, or tablet, you can fall prey to your identity and financial information being stolen and used for nefarious purposes. The good news is that there are five simple ways you can protect yourself from these attacks.We Suggest you Do NotOpen emails that look too good to be trueTypical attempts to get you to open an email include subject lines that you have won a prize or a free offer. Phishing threatsDo not click on banking or account links in an email, particularly if the email asks for updated credit card information. Cybercriminals can disguise emails to look like they are coming from legitimate organizations or people you know but clicking on these links and submitting your personal, financial, or login information may fall into the wrong hands. Always contact the financial institution directly, do not use the link in the email, to check to see if the request is valid. Almost every time it is not. Respond to emails that are an unusual plea for helpA common scam is when an individual poses as a known contact and states that they have been mugged while vacationing abroad and need you to send money ASAP. If you are concerned, call the person directly and dont respond to the email or phone call. Interact with unknown individuals or sourcesThat includes opening emails, downloading files, or interacting on social media. Only download files from a trusted source as files can be malware which can steal personal data and damage your device. Moreover, some fraudsters have been known to impersonate a potential love interest online to gain your trust and then ask for your bank information. Submit payment in response to threats of arrest from an authority figure. Common scams are when criminals pose as an IRS agent and demand payment to avoid persecution. The IRS does not email communications of this type to citizens. Just ignore these scams.As we navigate the current ever-changing cyber environment, it is possible to learn and connect safely with just a little knowledge. So now you know these five ways to protect yourself, enjoy technology today!