How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets

K. Gabriel Heiser
Phylius Press (2007)
ISBN 0979080118
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/07)

The question of how to protect your family assets is timely. It is an important consideration faced by the majority of American citizens.  As a result of longer life expectancy, rising medical costs, and complicated governmental programs, more and more people are forced to spend all their money before they ever qualify to take advantage of Medicaid benefits. Heiser’s book is a godsend as it guides the reader through the complex issues relating to Medicaid benefits, qualifications, and application strategies.

This amazing guidebook will help you discover the secrets of protecting your family assets in ways that will not disqualify you from Medicaid benefits. The contents include a comprehensive working definition of Medicaid, what is provided, and how to apply for the program. Medical and income qualifications are covered in detail.  Strategies for transferring assets, setting up trusts, and planning annuities are all addressed.

I personally found the Case Studies to be helpful.  These examples gave several possible scenarios which offered me ideas for integrating these applications to planning an approach to finding solutions in my own life situation.

The appendix contains important information on a Durable Power of Attorney, as well as valuable suggestions on obtaining a qualified attorney.  A glossary, important statistical tables, some applicable federal laws, a list of resources and agencies available, and Medicaid questionnaires, all make this a valuable resource and reference guide.

J. Gabriel Heiser, an attorney, with over 23-years experience in the field of elder law and estate planning is well-qualified to author this book.

This is an important guide for retirement planning and for anyone with a family member in, or approaching, a long-term-care situation.  It can also become a valuable resource and reference guide for professional financial and estate planners, attorneys, for people in the medical profession, social workers, and ministers.

I found the book to be crucial, timely, and important.  “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets” is a book that should be read by every American tax payer as well as by every recipient and future recipient of Medicaid benefits.

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