The State of California has developed a non-profit website to help consumers navigate the overwhelming and costly issue of long-term care. They offer planning tools, brochures, calculations, and information on long term care insurance policies. As two out of three Californians are projected to need long-term care this information can help you make sure that you have prepared for the needs of yourself and your loved ones.

* The information contained in this Blog is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion of counsel.

According to the Federal Trade Commission there is a new scam on the rise. Scammers are now calling and impersonating Medicare workers. They will claim that they need to verify your bank account number. They sound very sound convincing and act like it is an urgent matter.
Some of the scammers may even know the first few numbers of your account, and ask you to verify the rest. If you give them the rest of your number, they will use it to access your account to take your money.
The callers may say they lost your information and need it to deposit funds, provide additional benefits, or send you a new Medicare or prescription card. They will assure you there’s no charge and threaten that your benefits will be cut off if you don’t give them your bank account information right away.
This is a scam to steal your money. Medicare will never call you and ask for your bank account information.
* The information contained in this Blog is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion of counsel.

In May of 2016, the End Of Life Option Act, that was approved by the Governor on October 5, 2015, will became law. This act will replace Part 1.85 of the current California Health and Safety Code commencing at section 443. This new law allows an adult, who has been determined to be suffering from a terminal illness to request a prescription (referred to as an “aid-in-dying drug”) to end his or her life, under certain conditions.
I have already received requests from several clients to include their wish that their agent under their advance health care directive be authorized to make this request on their behalf. Unfortunately, 443.2 (c) specifically states, “A request for a prescription for an aid-in-dying drug under this part shall be made solely and directly by the individual diagnosed with the terminal disease and shall not be made on behalf of the patient, including but not limited to, through a power of attorney, an advance health care directive, a conservator, health care agent, surrogate, or any other legally recognized health care decision maker” (emphasis added).
* The information contained in this Blog is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an opinion of counsel.