With more and more elder law attorneys expanding their practices to include Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits planning, I have seen countless self-dubbed "VA Planning Specialists" offering their services. A large amount of VA plans fail in that many insurance agents do not understand the applicable Medicaid rules, or sometimes even the relevant VA rules. As a result, inappropriate insurance products are sold to a client and/or his or her family members. In light of this, ...
I have received several questions through the Ask Dale section regarding the applicability of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ("DRA") provisions on an annuity purchased by a spouse of an institutionalized individual. While the language contained within 42 U.S.C.A. § 1396p(c)(1)(G) seems to apply only to the "annuitant who has applied for medical assistance," most post-DRA states apply the provisions also to an annuitant that is the spouse of an individual who has applied for medical as ...
