Your estate planning might include the preparation of a HIPAA Authorization, which document would permit someone to have access to your medical information. A HIPAA Authorization which complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and is executed by you, as the Principal, authorizes the release of medical information to the person or persons designated. Once signed, a HIPAA Authorization can be revoked at any time.
More on Social Security Retirement Benefits
Last week's blog discussed the need to include Social Security Retirement benefit planning when engaging in estate planning or long term care planning with an elder law attorney since income is an important consideration in determining how much money you will have to pay your bills or even pay for your long term care.
Estate Planning and Social Security Retirement Benefits
When engaging in estate planning, or even long term care planning, with an elder law attorney, it is a good idea to include Social Security Retirement benefit planning. Why? For most Americans, Social Security Retirement benefits are an important part, if not all, of their monthly income. How much a person receives each month from Social Security depends on exactly when retirement occurs, and early retirement can reduce the amount that the retiree receives each month.
Other Types of Identity Theft
Identity theft may occur in many ways. Last week's blog talked about medical identity theft. There are many other types of information that a thief can take such as stealing your credit or debit card numbers (also called skimming), stealing your wallet or purse, which contains identification and credit cards, stealing your mail and items out of your trash (known as dumpster diving), or stealing records from your place of employment.
