Financial questions and senior housing go hand in hand, so we recently asked readers to submit their financial questions to experts at the Mutual Fund Store. Our financial experts provided in depth responses to some of readers most pressing questions about paying for senior care. Mutual Fund Store experts will continue to answer questions for us in the Ask the Expert section of our website, but for now here are five great answers to five important questions.
According to the IRS, “If you, your spouse, or your dependent is in a nursing home, and the primary reason for being there is for medical care, the entire cost, including meals and lodging, is a deductible medical expense. If the individual is in the home mainly for personal reasons, then only the cost of the actual medical care is a deductible medical expense, and the cost of the meals and lodging is not deductible.”
Even if your mom isn’t in a care facility but has a skilled nurse come to her residence, that nurse’s wages are deductible as long as the care is medically necessary.
So you have two tasks:
If you decide your mom should take the deduction, she could face limits based on her income and the percentage of her income she’s deducting. For example, the IRS states that she can deduct only the amount of medical/dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of her adjusted gross income (as shown on Form 1040, line 37), so be sure to check IRS guidelines.
Tax deductions are a very individualized issue because every person has a unique tax situation. It could be tremendously helpful if you’re able to consult a tax adviser, either paid or through a non-profit. For elderly folks who can’t afford a tax adviser, a quick internet search can be helpful in finding a certified public accountant (CPA) and other accountants in the geographic area who perform pro bono work in such cases.
While we don’t recommend a specific agency, there are some good resources available through the Federal Trade Commission.
Practically speaking, there are some steps you can take to help get the ball rolling in the right direction:
Reverse mortgages often have a negative connotation, mainly because many seniors have either misunderstood the fine print or simply been duped. There are lots of negative stories out there, such as how reverse mortgages can backfire, as well as warnings from attorneys and U.S. officials about the risks of reverse mortgages.
A well-structured reverse mortgage taken by an individual or couple who fully understand all the implications could be a good last resort if the homeowner’s primary objective is to remain in the home and he or she understands that his or her heirs will not inherit the home. There are quite a lot of fine print items to focus on. Among them:
To avoid a reverse mortgage, consider if any other options are possible, such as:
Be wary of anyone selling reverse mortgages who presents it as a miracle solution. Unfortunately, when money runs out for a retiree, there simply isn’t a silver-bullet remedy.
Though this isn’t absolutely the case, we can understand why you feel that way: People who have little or no money may receive state aid and can, under some circumstances, live in state-run facilities or have care paid by the state in a private facility. People who have a lot of money can afford a variety of facilities. And people in the middle may not qualify for aid, nor may they be able to afford their preferred facility.
Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.
Each long-term care insurance policy is different, so in order to fully understand how your policy can be used, you will have to call your insurance provider to ask what coverage you can receive. If you need a copy of the policy, just ask for one, as they are obligated to provide that for you.
Lastly, speak with the people who run an assisted living facility that may be of interest to you. Because of the nature of their work, they’re used to dealing with insurance claims and may be able to provide some personal guidance.
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About the Mutual Fund Store
Providing unbiased, fee-based investment advice and asset management with a focus on doing what’s right for its more than 34,000 clients, The Mutual Fund Store is a nationwide system of registered investment advisors, which include affiliated companies and independently owned and operated franchises. Individual Stores are SEC or state registered investment advisors. Advisors actively manage personalized investment plans, extensively researching and expertly monitoring the mutual funds selected for clients. Each Store can offer investment advisory services to prospective and existing clients in the state where the Store is located, while a number of Stores may also offer advisory services in nearby or other states. The advisor may not transact business where it is not appropriately registered, excluded or exempted from registration.