"Are Medicare and Medicaid the same thing?"
"How long will it take to get approval for a Medicaid application?"
"What is long-term care insurance?"
"Do I need long-term care insurance?"
"How long do I have to file a lawsuit for my personal injuries?"
"Do I need an attorney?"
"What are your fees?"
"Are Medicare and Medicaid the same thing?"
Medicare and Medicaid ARE NOT the same. Medicare is health insurance for all people age 65 or older, people under age 65 with certain disabilities, or any person with end-stage renal disease. Medicare is made up of several parts: Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B) and Prescription Coverage (Part D). Some private companies offer a plan that contracts with Medicare to provide you with your Medicare benefits. Medicaid is a joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid covers nursing home costs and other long-term care assistance for the elderly if they meet certain financial and medical requirements. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
"How long will it take to get approval for a Medicaid application?"
Often, the most time expended for a Medicaid case is simply in preparing to file the application by ensuring that the client's assets are within the allowable limits, making necessary adjustments to accomplish that goal and obtaining documentation. In
Massachusetts
, when a Medicaid application is filed, typically Medicaid requests additional information from the client and imposes a 30-day deadline for the return of the information. Upon return of the requested information or expiration of the 30-day deadline (whichever occurs first), Medicaid issues a decision within approximately two weeks thereafter. In
New Hampshire
, after the application is filed and Attorney Jutras has met with the caseworker, Medicaid requests additional information from the client and imposes a ten-day deadline for the information to be returned. Upon return of the information, typically a decision is issued within approximately three weeks, depending upon the district office handling the application (some districts take longer than others to process paperwork).
"What is long-term care insurance?"
Long-term care insurance is designed to protect your savings in the event you need long-term care - and not just in a nursing home or an Assisted Living Facility. When a person requires long-term assistance, often they are faced with the prospect of entering a nursing home and paying upwards of $6,000 per month to cover the cost. This can quickly absorb a person's funds that they've spent their lifetime saving, and deny them the ability to pass an inheritance onto their children. For a reasonable annual premium, long-term care insurance provides elders with coverage for their nursing home stay, thereby eliminating the need to pay their life savings to the nursing home.
"Do I need long-term care insurance?"
As stated above, the cost of nursing home care is quite high, and is expected to rise over the next few years. These costs effectively make private payment of a person's long-term care out of the realm of possibility for most families. It is becoming increasingly clear that the best solution to this problem is an adequate long-term care insurance policy. It is anticipated that, in the future, long-term care policies will be as commonly used as auto insurance policies, due to the rising cost of long-term care.
"How long do I have to file a lawsuit for my personal injuries?"
In New Hampshire and
Massachusetts
, you have three years from the date of injury, or the date you became aware of the injury, to file suit for damages related to an auto accident or other similar personal injury. Should any person fail to file suit within the three-year statute of limitations, their claim is forever barred.
"Do I need an attorney?"
Although everyone is entitled by law to self-representation (without an attorney), much time, energy and frustration can be saved by hiring an attorney to represent your interests. By being familiar with the law and court procedure, your attorney has the expertise required to reach your goals effectively and in a timely manner, and avoid additional legal issues arising after the case is concluded.
"What are your fees?"
The manner in which cases are invoiced depends upon the type case. Some cases, such as personal injury cases, are billed at the end of the case in a contingency fashion. Medicaid cases are typically paid on a flat fee basis, depending upon the complexity of the case itself. Divorce and family matters are billed at the office's current hourly rates. Your unique situation will determine how billing is handled. Should you elect to hire this firm, the amount of all fees and the manner in which you will be billed will be disclosed to you in a fee agreement which you and Attorney Jutras will both sign at the outset of the case.
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