Elder Law

Journal Article Highlights Need for SNTs

By Harry Margolis

An article on the first page of The Wall Street Journal July 19, 2007, "Note to Medicaid Patients: The Doctor Won't See You" highlights the need for families to leave funds in trust for children and other relatives with special needs.  The article describes the plight of some Medicaid beneficiaries who cannot find necessary care because doctors have dropped out of the program due to low reimbursement rates.

Many parents of children with special needs do not provide for them in their estate plans because they see no need.  The children are well taken care of under Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and state programs, often funded through the state's Departments of Mental Health or Retardation.

However, we cannot be certain of the future.  Will these state programs still exist?  Will doctors continue to continue to accept Medicaid? 

A bulwark against such uncertainties can be created by leaving funds in a specially-drafted trust for a child or grandchild with special needs.  While it may be difficult to leave enough funds to pay for all of the needs of the beneficiary, any amount can fill in gaps in publicly-funded programs or supplement the meager support they provide.

Full post as published by Elder Law Answers on July 24, 2007 (boomark / email).