Navigating Benefits for Elder Clients

As our clients age, they may ask for our input regarding age-related benefits that may become available to them, especially the confusing jumble of Medicare choices. At the same time, age-related cognitive decline may impact our clients’ legal capacity to make decisions, and we, as attorneys, must determine whether and how to proceed.

This presentation will discuss Medicare and its related insurance programs from the point of view of someone having to decide what program looks best for their health insurance. Discussions will also include the ABA Model Rule that applies to attorneys when a client may have diminished decision-making capacity.

This program is for attorneys who work in estate planning, elder law, life care planning, or special needs, as well as other attorneys who have an interest in Medicare and its associated insurance programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain when clients become eligible for Medicare coverage
• Investigate the differences among Medicare-only coverage, Medicare Supplements (aka Medi-gap plans,) and Medicare Advantage plans
• Discover the coverage/non-coverage decisions by Medicare and companion insurers
• Explore the ABA Model Rule 1.14’s obligations
• Learn how Model Rule 1.14 modifies the usual view of attorney-client confidentiality
• Gain an understanding of an attorney’s opportunity to protect a client with diminished capacity