Marsha Goodman, Arizona Elder Law Attorney

05/25/2021

In recognition of the weight that many women carry in caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease, I am dedicating my participation in WABDL's powerlifting competition in Phoenix on June 12 to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research. My most recent (albeit pre-pandemic) winning deadlift was 253 lbs - I am training to beat that by at least 5 kilos to get to 265 pounds. Your pledge of even 10 cents per pound will have a powerful (pun intended!) impact on ending this horrible disease in our lifetimes!

I am fighting Alzheimer's by participating in The Longest Day. Support me by donating today!

10/17/2018

A friend reminded me that my previous post about the increase in Social Security benefits is only half the story. The premium for Medicare Part B will also be increasing in 2019, from $134 per month (for people with monthly incomes less than $170,000) to $135.50. Unlike last year, this does allow most people to keep most of the increase in Social Security benefits.

04/26/2017

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid are taking steps to further protect their benefiiciaries' Social Security numbers, to limit the types of fraud that can be perpetrated by using someone's SSN. Starting in April of next year, Medicare recipients will begin receiving new Medicare cards that replace the Social Security Number with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier ("MBI"). New cards, for those just turning 65, should already be using an MBI.

11/06/2016

Now that election day is almost past, the next choice that those of us on Medicare need to make is your Open Enrollment selection. Between now and December 7, Medicare participants can switch from traditional Medicare (with or without a supplement) to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or switch back the other way, and choose, change or drop their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. If you like your current choices, and your plan will still be offered in 2017, you can keep everything as is, but it's always a good idea to review your options to make an informed choice. Check out www.medicare.gov for more information.

Medicare.gov: the official U.S. government site for Medicare

05/30/2016

On this day on which we reflect on the sacrifice of those who have served, contact your Senators to tell them you want to honor the veterans alive today with passage of the Veterans First Act (S.2981). In addition to provisions designed to hold the Veterans Health Administration accountable for the qualify of its care, the bill includes a large expansion of the VA's Program of Comprehensive Asistance for Family Caregivers, which provides financial support, health benefits and other services for family members who are providing care for injured veterans.

03/27/2016

I was able to set a new Personal Best in Competition yesterday with a 264 lb. deadlift. Thanks, Preacher Power, for a fantastic meet!

02/07/2016

As of December 15, net worth is no longer a factor in determining whether a veteran in eligible for health care benefits. The only financial criterion the VA will consider is the veteran's gross household income and deductible expenses from the previous year. This means that veterans on a fixed income will not be prevented from receiving healthcare benefits just because they have saved for a rainy day.

10/18/2015

Open Enrollment for changes to your Medicare plan, including your supplemental policies and Part D prescription drug plans, started on Thursday and will be open until December 7.

09/17/2015

By tomorrow at this time, I will be immersed in taking the exam to be a Certified Elder Law Attorney, which will be a big relief from worrying about it! Thanks to everyone who has sent positive energy and good wishes.

07/15/2015

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, Medicare will reimburse doctors for time spent counseling patients about options involving end-of-life care. Counseling is entirely voluntary for patients, but it is more often the doctors, and not the patients, who resist these conversations. It is so important that doctors be aware of whether their patients want all possible treatment at the end of life, just to be kept comfortable, or something in between. And patients may find it easier to have the discussion with their doctors than with their families.

06/10/2015

The American Medical Association has formed study groups to begin developing guidelines to assess whether aging physicians continue to be able to provide safe care for their patients. It will be interesting to see how these standards relate to the processes that physicians often use to determine competency in their patients.