For people in Florida, preparing for future medical expenses can be a major concern. This is especially true when someone needs to take advantage of the long-term care provisions of Medicaid when dealing with serious disabilities or a need for memory care or other residential facilities. Spouses in particular may be concerned about the way Medicaid's rules about assets relate to their future planning.
Medicaid planning can be important for couples needing care
Flare-ups will now need to be considered in disability ratings
A recent ruling by the Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims may make it easier for veterans in Florida to obtain higher disability ratings. The court considered a case involving a veteran who had musculoskeletal injuries that caused pain flare-ups for which he had received a 10 percent disability rating.
Digital assets and estate planning
Florida is one of the states that has adopted the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Revised. This is part of an attempt to clarify who has rights to digital materials after a person's death. In the past, a fiduciary could go through a person's physical effects and decide what to do with them, but even if the fiduciary has been given passwords to the deceased's online accounts, it may still be against the website's terms of service to access the site.
The important of updating estate plans
Many people in Florida don't like thinking about estate planning and also believe that this topic is something that only needs consideration once. However, updates might be necessary as time passes and things change. Here is some advice from one financial planner about updating accounts.
Veterans' benefits to help with long-term care costs
In Florida, some veterans and their spouses may be eligible for a long-term care benefit through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Despite the availability of this benefits program, only 5 percent of the funds are accessed each year because many people simply don't know about the program's existence.
Amy B. Van Fossen 
