Grathwol Law

Veteran’s Day Speech

grathwollaw — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:18:35 +0000

I spoke up at the Southshore center last Friday for Veteran’s Day. It was a lively crowd of about 100 people: Vets, family and friends. Before the group gobbled down turkey, gravy and potatoes, I peppered them with advice from medicare paid hospital stays, to trusts, and powers of attorney.

With any luck, Boone Day and the Legion Post 259 will invite me back next year!

Medicare Part D Deadline

grathwollaw — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:41:55 +0000

December 7th is the deadline to choose a new Medicare Part D Plan. Why would you choose a new plan? You may find that the drugs you took last year were not always covered by the plan you chose last year. Be careful, because what drugs are covered by which plan changes year to year. The way to choose a new plan is look at the drugs you are taking and choose a plan that covers those drugs. Just because it worked last year, doesn’t mean it will work this year.

This deadline is December 7th!!!! It ususally is December 31st so don’t wait to choose a Medicare Part D plan.

http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-info/medicare-part-d/#enrollment

See the link above for more information.

Snow Birds to Florida Beware!!!

grathwollaw — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:22:22 +0000

A new law passed this fall in Florida may prevent your Minnesota Power of Attorney from being honored immediately in Florida. The new law allows the financial institution to ask for an opinion letter of legal counsel in a foreign state to see if the power is valid.

The easiest and quickest work around is to have a Florida power of attorney. It may seem like double the documents, double the cost, but really this is the cheapest and best solution.

See Florida statute Ch. 709.2106

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0709/Sections/0709.2106.html

Increase in Social Security

grathwollaw — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:37:29 +0000

Believe it or not, seniors and other Social Security recipients are finally getting a boost in payments for the first time in three years. Every time you go to the grocery store you pay more for butter, milk and eggs. The federal government is adjusting Social Security payments up by 3.6% to recognize this inflation. This change should take place in January 2012. Statements with this change should reach your mail boxes this November. Watch for the Green and White Statements and save itfor your files.

The increase in payments, however, will be coupled with an increase in the Medicare premium. The net effect will be diminished by this increase in cost.

See the link below for the full article.

textbreakingnews2@ema3lsv06.turner.com

How to Find a Place for Mom or Dad to Live

grathwollaw — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:48:10 +0000

A good resource to find available beds in the Twin Cities for assisted living, nursing home or senior housing is http://careoptionsnetwork.org

TIP OF THE DAY

grathwollaw — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:47:15 +0000

The best insurance of good care in a nursing home or assisted living is frequent, unscheduled visits to your family member throughout the week. The visits needn’t be long. Twenty minutes three times a week is worth more to the resident than 3 hours on Sunday.

Top 5 estate planning tools for everyone.

grathwollaw — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:46:11 +0000

1. Power of Attorney – in the event you are disabled and cannot manage your financial affairs.

2. Healthcare Directive – in the event you are unable to communicate to your doctor to make informed decisions about your healthcare.

3. Will – to select who will receive your estate at your death and perhaps more importantly, who will be in charge of managing your estate.

4. Tangible Personal Property List – to give to your family and or friends select, sentimental, tangible items that they will cherish and remind them of you.

5. Safe Deposit Box/Fireproof Lock Box – this holds the original Will but not the Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive. Banks are not open Sundays! Be sure there are 2 people on the Safe Deposit Box.