Obtaining medical prescriptions online has become increasingly easy and prevalent. Savvy shoppers are learning to do their due diligence and research rather than just fill prescriptions at their local pharmacy. Many online retailers offer greater discounts in bulk amounts with expedited ease. However, there is a sordid side to getting online prescriptions filled. There is a high incidence of counterfeit prescription drugs being made and used to fill every day orders. This is a very common scam that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tracking.

Besides the danger of ingesting something harmful or NOT ingesting the medicine you really need, you are now transmitting your financial information to online con artists. We highly recommend you always verify that you are using approved vendors for medical and financial purchases.

For information on this and many other types of scams targeting the elderly, be sure to check out the Resources page for a free download of our book, Senior Shakedown: The Unknown Dangers of Getting Old, and How to Protect Your Loved Ones.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

Who is eligible for Medicare? Generally Medicare is available to people 65 or over, younger people with disabilities and people with end stage renal disease (www.hhs.gov). Medicare has two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (Medicare insurance). There are eligibility requirements; which you can find online at www.hhs.gov (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

Why are we highlighting Medicare? There are many ways for crooks and financial scammers to find out your age, where you worked, if you paid taxes, where you live, and surmise if you are eligible for Medicare. Some scammers may pretend to be representatives of Medicare in an effort to coax personal information from their targets. Taking it to the next level, there are even reports of fake mobilized clinics where unlicensed services were performed and then Medicare was billed.

For more information on this and other types of scams that con artists used to target the elderly, be sure to check out our book, Senior Shakedown: The Unknown Dangers of Getting Old, and How to Protect Your Loved Ones from our Free Resources page.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

There’s no denying the fact that the Internet is a huge part of daily life for millions of people in today’s society. For younger adults and children, learning to navigate the complexities of the world wide web is easier and is part of daily routines.  This familiarity with using the Internet consistently and regularly leads to the belief that younger people are more likely to recognize internet scams or fraud and avoid them. The same may not be said for seniors and the elderly. Since some older adults tend to have limited access to the Internet, they unknowingly become easier targets for scammers when they do start going online more frequently.

Potential situations that could arise include: falling victim to some pesky pop-up ads claiming their computer is infected with a virus and that a “free scan” (from a fraudulent anti-virus program) is needed to get rid of it. There is also potential that the scan may con the Internet user out of a great deal of his or her money, or even infect the computer with an actual virus that exposes all of the computer’s information to scammers and con artists.

Another internet scam that seniors often fall prey to comes in the form of email or phishing scams. In these types of scams, he or she may get an email from a seemingly legitimate company asking them to either update or confirm any personal information. Another such email scam may even appear to be coming from the IRS regarding a tax refund. We find it is vitally important that seniors and the elderly learn about how to protect themselves online, There clearly are advantages in learning how to use the Internet; we strongly recommend finding safe and proper ways to do so.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

Losing a loved one is hard enough on its own without also having to worry about fraud on top of it. The sad truth, however, is that there are two types of funeral and cemetery scams that target seniors, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The first act comes in the form of scammers and con artists reading obituaries or either calling on or attending a funeral service of someone they don’t know. Then they take advantage of the grieving family members and friends. The scammers may make claims that the individual had an outstanding debt with them in an effort to extort money from relatives.

The second type of scam comes from funeral homes that are in disrepute. These facilities will often take advantage of grief-stricken family members who do not know the prices associated with funerals. The staff at the funeral home may tack on hidden fees or upcharge the family of the deceased. One example we heard about was a funeral home insisting a casket (at great expense) was still needed even though the deceased was cremated.

For more information on the different types of scams that target seniors, and how to watch out for them, make sure to visit our free resources page to download of copy of Senior Shakedown: The Unknown Dangers of Getting Old, and How to Protect Your Loved Ones.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

A harsh reality of today’s society is that many people feel an expectation or desire to look younger than their actual age. Consider how many anti-aging products are currently on the market.  Even people who don’t actually need anti-aging products are using them! Thus, it is not a great surprise that unsuspecting older adults and seniors can become easy targets for scammers promising the newest and best in anti-aging products. After all, there are some who may feel it is necessary to hide their true age via “miracle” products in order to feel more accepted in social circles or society in general.

Besides buying products, people often seek out other medical alternatives, like Botox or plastic surgery. Like many other services offered to the public, medicine is not immune from scammers. They may promise younger, better-looking skin through Botox scams or some type of homeopathic remedy that doesn’t actually fix anything at all.

Scams involving Botox can be quite dangerous, since many labs creating fake Botox are often working with the real root ingredient, botulism neurotoxin. This is, in fact, one of the most toxic substances available. These fake miracle products can often produce side effects far more dangerous to a person and their health than simply living with wrinkles or aging skin. A person’s life can literally be at stake, so it is important to be guarded and educated when it comes to any kind of beauty or anti-aging product that seems suspicious.

 

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

There are many harsh realities when understanding why seniors and the elderly are targets for financial scams. One reason is that they are considered easy targets since many older adults are deemed less cognitively savvy than younger individuals. Also, older adults are less likely to report financial scams. They feel embarrassed and don’t want to share their misfortune with law enforcement, their friends, family members, etc.

Seniors are often targeted because there can be a misperception that the older you are, the more established you are – and the more money you have saved.  As stated, this is often a misperception. Many older individuals live off of pensions, Social Security, and limited retirement plans. However, this does NOT leave them immune from financial scams. The unfortunate truth is that financial scams and crimes can be difficult to prosecute, and, as such, are considered to be “low-risk” crimes. Many times those committing the crimes are loved ones or close friends of the family.

So, what are the top ten financial scams against seniors? Let’s take a look:

1. Medicare and health insurance scams

2. Counterfeit prescription drugs

3. Funeral and cemetery scams

4. Fraudulent anti-aging products

5. Telemarketing and phone scams

6. Internet fraud

7. Investment schemes

8. Homeowner and reverse mortgage scams

9. Sweepstakes and lottery scams

10. The grandparent scam

If you would like more information check out our book, Senior Shakedown: The Unknown Dangers of Getting Old, and How to Protect Your Loved Ones by visiting the Free Resources page of the site.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

Financial issues are a sore spot for a lot of folks, and many of them often have trouble in planning out their finances and properly managing a budget. You might not even know there’s a difference between the two, but in fact there is:

Budgets

A budget is simply something that people can use that lets them break down each of their expenses into categories over a certain time period (like weekly, monthly, or yearly). It is a guideline to follow in order to help with spending.

Each individual expense is placed into the budget and then added together for the total. This is then subtracted against the total amount of income made during the same time period. What results is the amount of money that can be saved during that period. To save more money, for example, expenditures can be changed or dropped from the budget altogether (if possible).

Financial Plans

A financial plan is a tool that people use to help them achieve their long-term financial goals. Since it breaks down expenditures as well, it is similar to a budget in this manner. However, a financial plan is much more focused on the end goal(s) and is oriented toward achieving them.

As an example, if you want to save a certain amount of money in order to retire, a financial plan would be the outline you would use in order to reach that goal. While indeed similar to budgets, financial plans differ in that they are focused more on income and assets—things like bank accounts, pensions, home equity, etc. A financial plan can also provide an estimate for how much money can be made with stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 401Ks, and the like.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

Thanks to the pension program provided to veterans by Veterans’ Affairs, those wartime veterans (and their survivors) who need financial help can receive benefit payments every month. Let’s look at some vital information both veterans and survivors should know regarding the pension program. But first, let’s answer this question:

What are Pension Benefits?

Simply put, a pension is a benefit that is based on need and is paid to a wartime veteran and his or her survivor(s). A veteran can be eligible if he or she:

• Was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
• Served 90 days or more of active military, naval or air service with at least 1 day being during the war period, AND
• His or her income is below the maximum annual pension rate, AND
• Meets the net worth limitations, AND
• Is aged 65 or above, OR is shown via evidence to have a permanent and total non-service-connected disability, OR is a patient in a nursing home, OR is receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Those who began active duty after September 7, 1980 must also have served a minimum of two years of active duty service. If the entirety of service is less than 24 months, the veteran must have completed his or her entire tour of duty.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

 

As much as we love our aging relatives and want to support them to the best of our abilities – sometimes we need help.

Finding the right types of support services available to you will provide you with an immense sense of relief. But where do you start? A good place to begin would be by meeting with an elder law attorney. Together, you can begin your search for the right type of support service that will meet the specific needs of your loved one, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that your loved one is receiving the best care possible.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.

Obtaining emergency medical transportation is one of a number of things that Medicaid will cover for eligible parties. Obviously, an emergency is defined as any time medical needs are immediate, like having a heart attack or being severely injured in a car accident. In these situations, you might require being taken to the emergency room via ambulance or medical flight and prior approval is not required to receive this type of transportation.

So, what if it isn’t an emergency?

If you require transportation to a medical appointment, it isn’t considered an emergency by Medicaid, but you may still be able to receive help if and when you need it. One of the other things Medicaid will cover is rides both to and from your doctor, the hospital or any other medical office for the purposes of receiving Medicaid-approved care. This coverage is known as “non-emergency medical transportation,” because it doesn’t involve an emergency situation. They could also provide transportation in case you don’t have a working vehicle of your own or don’t have a license. You could receive help if you have a physical or mental disability or are otherwise unable to travel or wait for a ride alone. Coverage for these services could be different based on individual situations or needs, and you may require prior approval from your state Medicaid agency to qualify.

Who Can Get a Ride?

Federal law mandates that Medicaid beneficiaries can get rides to and from care providers as needed. Each state’s rules regarding when rides are necessary differ from each other, so check rules for your state. Normally, you’ll get instructions as to when rides are necessary and how and when you can schedule one after you enroll in the Medicaid program. You might need to talk with a Medicaid caseworker, a ride service, or some other agency. No matter what, the contact should:

• Help you decide if you have an immediate need for care;
• Make sure you are eligible for Medicaid;
• Verify you have an appointment with a Medicaid provider;
• Make sure you have no other reasonable way to make it to your appointment; and
• Decide what type of ride Medicaid can provide for your situation.

Using this information, the contact will then either set up the ride you need or tell you how to do it on your own. A pre-approved person or ride service will then transport you to and from your appointment.

How Do I Get a Ride?

Rides may be by taxi, car, van, public bus or a subway, depending on your state’s rules and your own needs. It could be shared with others. You need to call in advance to set up your ride, and you should also call if you need to cancel. It’s important to remember that the driver is only able to give you or a family member a ride to a medical facility and back home.

Make sure you follow the rules so that Medicaid will approve and pay for the ride. Drivers may only be authorized to pick up riders at a specific time, so it’s important to:

• Be ready on time for the pick up; and
• Call the ride service to cancel a ride if you do not need one anymore.

If you or someone you love needs assistance with Elder Care law issues, call 856-281-3131. Let us help ease your stress and give you a plan.