The Law Offices of Lawrence Solorio

12/02/2025

Don't forget to create and fund a trust for CA citizens, as a trust will a) allow you and your loved ones to avoid probate and b) if you applied for Medi-Cal benefits, the STATE OF CA will not attach your trust assets for benefits you received from Medi-Cal, like long-term care benefits etc.

Call my office at 916-536-1773 for a FREE consultation regarding a trust package for a single person or for a couple...to start planning for your trust now, before it's too late (www.sololaw.net).

12/02/2025

IMPORTANT...Medi-Cal will be making some big changes to their asset/income rules for those who are in are may go into a nursing home in 2026!

There is MORE flexibility...IF...you do your Medi-Cal asset protection planning...BEFORE...January 1, 2026, as the current rules are more flexible than the rules that go into effect January 1, 2026.

That being said, there is still a lot you can do to protect your assets and income (for couples) starting on January 1, 2026...but...the rules will be changing to the strategy will be a little different than in the past 2-3 years or so.

If you are on Medi-Cal now and you have MORE than $135,000 for a single person and $195,000 for couples...you should talk to an Elder Law Attorney to determine how to protect the amounts OVER that, as it may result in a denial of Medi-Cal long-term care benefits when you "reapply" for the benefit in 2026!!!

Call my office if you need some assistance with Medi-Cal and Asset Protection at 916-536-1773 and leave a message if we are out oof the office (www.sololaw.net).

10/29/2025

In anyone needs help with food during the holiday seasons...forward this information to them...and pass it on.

10/08/2025

As a part of your overall estate plan, don't forget to make a LIST of your ONLINE PASSWORDS and put them in your trust binder, so that your loved ones can delete/erase your online accounts so no one else can access them when you have passed.

To prepare for the future, create a digital inventory of your online accounts and store access information in a secure password manager or a physical, fireproof location for your executor. For other services, you must ensure your trustee or executor has the necessary login details to manage your accounts according to company policies and your wishes.

Document Accounts: Make a comprehensive list of all your online accounts, including usernames, security question answers, and any relevant instructions.

Include Account Details: Note how to access each account, such as the specific login URL and any associated security codes.

Identify Important Accounts: Focus on accounts that hold financial information, digital assets, or personal memories.

Pass this along to other friends and family members to remind them to do this too.

09/04/2025

If you have a safety deposit box with a bank, make sure you add one or two names...besides your name...to the box, so that they can have easy access to the box upon your passing.

See the AARP article attached for more discussion re safety deposit boxes.

Still popular among older adults, safe deposit boxes aren’t theft-proof — and some items cannot be stored in them

07/15/2025

PLEASE NOTE...I have attached a notice from a group I belong to that says that effective 1/1/26...the asset limits to receive Medi-Cal benefits is "going back" to the limits of the calendar year 2022.

So if you have any family members who may need to go into a nursing home and apply for Medi-Cal benefits to help pay for their care, be sure to discuss this with an Elder Law Attorney who has experience working in this area of elder care benefits.

See details below.

2026 Asset Limit Reinstatement FAQ

California's Governor and the Legislature recently reached a budget agreement which includes a major change for older adults and persons with disabilities who need Medi-Cal. Effective January 1, 2026, the asset limit will be reinstated for non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs, back to 2022 levels – $130,000 for an individual, and $65,000 for each additional household member. For couples receiving Spousal Impoverishment protections, additional asset limits will apply.

06/10/2025

Medi-Cal "may" change their asset limits from not counting assets at all if you go into a nursing home to the lesser amount allowed of about $2,000 for a single person and about $135,000 or so for the at-home spouse! See article below.

If the changes are made and you are in a nursing home...or may be going to a nursing home...you may have to consider taking steps to protect your financial assets and your home, so that you won't lose your Medi-Cal nursing home benefits!

Governor’s Proposed Cuts to Medi-Cal

The California Governor has released his revised proposed budget, citing a deficit of $12 billion due to the federal tariffs and rising Medi-Cal costs. These proposed cuts to Medi-Cal do not include the $700 billion cuts to Medicaid that Republicans in Congress are considering.

The state budget proposal reverses many of the reforms to Medi-Cal that were implemented over the past few years. Among them include reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limits of $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples effective January 1, 2026. Many people who reside in nursing homes or are in Medi-Cal programs, like IHSS, ALW, or adult day care, with assets exceeding the limit, would be ineligible and lose Medi-Cal coverage. There would be cuts to IHSS by capping the overtime and travel hours at 50 hours/week. Also, the proposal would limit Medi-Cal access for undocumented immigrants by freezing enrollment into Medi-Cal, eliminating dental and IHSS benefits for undocumented immigrants, and imposing a $100/month premium for existing Medi-Cal recipients. Here is a link to the full budget proposal.

The cuts to Medi-Cal from the state and federal level will be devastating to older adults and people with disabilities, many of whom survive in large part because of Medi-Cal. This budget proposal requires legislatures to vote and is currently being debated at hearings, so there is still time to stop it. Call your legislators and let them know how these proposed cuts are harmful and cruel to the most vulnerable populations. Here is a link to find your state representative. Here is a link to take action against the $700 billion Medicaid cuts.

11/17/2024

After the recent election...one thing that many people ignored...is that the new administration wants to exempt some benefits (million dollars in bonuses to the rich etc.) from being taxed with Social Security (SS) which, according to this article, result in speeding up the depletion of SS in about 6 years or so.

What they should do is remove the cap on earnings and make everyone...including the millionaires and billionaires...pay SS on every dollar they make just as 99% of Americans do now. If they did this, then would extend SS for years and even give seniors a raise in their SS benefits!

See link below for information to contact your representative to tell them to leave SS alone and expand it!

Trump has vowed to preserve the entitlement programs—but his plan to cut taxes would also speed up their insolvency, experts warn.

10/16/2024

How to apply for Medicare Open Enrollment for 2025.

How to choose your best Part D or Advantage plan

10/16/2024

Things Medicare does not pay for.

You should plan to pay for some common medical expenses

10/01/2024

If you are looking for an Assisted Living facility for you or your parents, use the attached "checklist" as a guide to choose the right facility. Click on LINK for checklist which can be printed out!

Pass this onto anyone you know that could use this information.

08/22/2024

If your spouse is in a nursing home, or is about to go into a nursing home, contact my office to find how how to a) protect your home, b) protect your financial assets and in some cases c) lower the "share of cost" for the nursing home care to...ZERO!

Even if they are already in the nursing home, by filing the proper petition, you can get the "share of cost" lowered retroactively, up to 3 months from the time you applied for Medi-Cal or 3 months from the time you filed your petition!

Contact my office to find out more about this subject.

Overview Welcome to the Law Offices of Lawrence Solorio As an Estate Planning Attorney, my practice focuses on the special needs of seniors. The majority of my practice and services provided is concentrated in two areas; Estate Planning to include, but is not limited to, Wills, Trusts, Durable Power...