by Ethan Okura | Aug 31, 2017 | Estate Planning, Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
Did you know that there are some exemptions that you can employ to save on your property taxes in Hawai‘i? One of the most commonly used exemptions is the real property tax exemption for homeowners. If you own a home in Hawai‘i, your property tax exemption is based on... by Ethan Okura | Jul 24, 2017 | Estate Planning, Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
Recently, the Hawaii State Legislature passed two bills that affect our elderly population and their health care. One was Senate Bill 534, the Kupuna Caregivers Act; the other was House Bill 1396, Relating to Community Care Foster Family Homes, both of which were... by Ethan Okura | May 8, 2017 | Estate Planning, Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
Last month we talked about the different types of nursing homes and long-term care facilities available in Hawaii. We covered ARCH, Adult Foster Homes, and Nursing Homes. There are also assisted-living facilities, which we did not discuss, but which are an important... by Ethan Okura | Apr 23, 2017 | Estate Planning, Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
We have had hundreds of clients over the years who have gone to nursing homes to provide for their care as they aged. Some of them lived full, rich, engaged lives in the nursing home until the very end. Others suffered from severe physical disabilities or dementia... 
by Ethan Okura | Dec 4, 2015 | Estate Planning, Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
When people come to us for advice on how to qualify for Medicaid to pay for their nursing home cost, we hear this phrase “Spend Down” all the time. Many people who have researched Medicaid benefits for long term care have heard that they should... by Ethan Okura | Jun 12, 2015 | Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
DOES A LIFE ESTATE STILL WORK FOR MEDICAID? Back in March, April, and May of 2010, my father wrote a three-part series for the Hawaii Herald called “Protect Your Home From Medicaid Liens.” It explained that the best way to protect your home is to...