Medicare Planning in Palo Alto

Connecting Medicare Concerns to Elder Law Planning Since 1983

A diagnosis, hospital stay, or growing need for daily assistance can quickly turn health coverage questions into broader concerns about long-term care costs, Medi-Cal eligibility, asset preservation, and decision-making authority. We address these connected issues through an elder law and estate planning practice that has served families since 1983.

We provide legal planning, not insurance sales or plan-selection counseling. Our role is to help Palo Alto families consider how coverage concerns may affect long-term care planning, advance health care directives, powers of attorney, existing estate plans, and responsibilities across generations.

Discuss how Medicare-related concerns fit into your family’s broader legal plan. Call (650) 683-9200 to speak with our firm.

Legal Issues That Can Accompany Medicare Decisions

Medicare and Medi-Cal serve different purposes. Medicare is a federal health insurance program. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program and may cover certain long-term care services for eligible applicants. Enrollment in one doesn’t automatically establish eligibility for the other.

Our work includes Medi-Cal planning, Medi-Cal asset preservation, long-term care planning, asset protection, conservatorships, estate planning, and health care planning. Depending on a family’s circumstances, we may need to address:

• Long-Term Care Funding: Evaluating Medicare alongside Medi-Cal, private long-term care insurance, personal assets, and other potential payment sources.
• Decision-Making Authority: Establishing advance health care directives and financial powers of attorney before incapacity prevents a person from acting.
• Asset Management: Considering ownership, transfers, tax consequences, and potential Medi-Cal eligibility as parts of one coordinated plan.
• Estate Plan Coordination: Reviewing whether existing trusts and related documents still reflect current health, care, and family circumstances.

A Multigenerational Perspective on Future Care

Our family-owned firm treats health and long-term care decisions as family planning issues. A parent’s care needs can affect a spouse, adult children, grandchildren, trustees, agents, and caregivers. The legal plan must account for the people responsible for carrying it out.

Michael Gilfix co-founded the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is a Fellow of the organization. He is also a Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law through the State Bar of California. Three of our attorneys hold that certification.

For Revocable Living Trust clients, our Peace of Mind Program provides ongoing support for trust maintenance questions under a fixed-fee arrangement. This continuity allows clients to revisit their plans when health or family circumstances change.

Choosing the Right Source for Medicare Guidance

Not every coverage question requires an elder law attorney. The appropriate resource depends on whether the issue involves insurance benefits, medical care, a dispute, or the legal and financial consequences of future care.

• HICAP: California’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program provides free, confidential counseling about enrollment, prescription drug coverage, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, claims, appeals, and coordination with Medi-Cal.
• Medicare or the Health Plan: Confirm current premiums, provider networks, covered services, billing requirements, and plan-specific appeal procedures directly.
• Health Care Providers: Discuss medical necessity, treatment options, supporting records, and the recommended care setting.
• Our Elder Law Attorneys: Seek legal guidance when coverage concerns affect incapacity, fiduciary authority, estate planning, long-term care financing, asset transfers, or Medi-Cal planning.