Same Sex Spouses & Partners of Nursing Home Residents will have Financial Protection starting January 1, 2012!

A New Law Extends Financial Protections for Medi-Cal's Long Term Care Benefits

to Same Sex Spouses and Registered Domestic Partners

LA LAW Center, LLP is proud to support and protect the rights of all individuals and families in protecting their hard earned savings and family homes.  We are pleased the share the following edited article from California State Assembly Representative, Mike Feuer’s web site.

On October 10, 2011, the Governor signed legislation authored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) that will provide same sex spouses and registered domestic partners of nursing home residents the same financial protections available to opposite sex married couples. Without these protections, Californians in same sex relationships risk losing access to joint financial resources, such as their home, bank accounts or stock, when their partner or spouse applies for the Medi-Cal long term care benefit. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2012.

"This bill extends critically needed protections to same sex couples who would otherwise be left impoverished by the costs of long term care," said National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. "This bill will correct a terrible injustice and ensure that all elder couples have the same safeguards under Medi-Cal."

"LGBT spouses and life-long partners are often torn apart because the current long-term care system unfairly discriminates against same sex couples," said Equality California Executive Director Roland Palencia. "This bill remedies the harm caused by current state law by ensuring the implementation of new federal guidelines that give states flexibility when administering long term care benefits. This is a critical change that helps LGBT seniors have the same dignity and respect afforded to all elderly people. We thank Assembly member Feuer for championing this critical piece of legislation."

"AB 641 is a major step forward in ensuring that same sex partners receive equal treatment under the law," said Patricia McGinnis, Executive Director for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. "It will provide the same protections afforded to opposite sex couples during one of the most difficult times in life when one spouse must enter a nursing home."

If you need more information on Medi-Cal qualifications or same sex couple’s estate planning protection options, visit us at  www.la-lawcenter.com