Be Prepared by Landay, David -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Notice Contents Dedication Acknowledgments Introduction Special Features of Be Prepared Part I: A Summary

Chapter 1: In a Nutshell

Part II: The Building Blocks for Successfully Living with a Life-Challenging Condition

Chapter 2: The Keys to Success

Section 1. Keeping Positive Section 2. It’s Your Health and Your Life Section 3. The Team Approach Section 4. Now Is “When” Section 5. Coping Section 6. Options for Getting Emotional Support Section 7. Worrying Section 8. No Shame, No Blame Section 9. Relaxation Section 10. Volunteer Section 11. Charity Section 12. Whom and When to Inform Section 13. Children Section 14. Privacy

Chapter 3: Gathering the Information You’ll Need

Section 1. Employment Benefits Section 2. Other Insurance Coverage Section 3. Social Security Information Section 4. Your Health Section 5. Your Credit Status Section 6. Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Information: The Medical Information Bureau Section 7. Your Financial Information

Chapter 4: Assessing Your Situation

Section 1. Your Employment

1.1 True Net Pay 1.2 Life Units 1.3 Fulfillment 1.4 Two People in a Single Economic Unit

Section 2. A Financial Snapshot: Today

2.1 Net Worth 2.2 Cash Flow

Section 3. A Financial Snapshot: If You Become Disabled

3.1 Net Worth in Two Years 3.2 Cash Flow on Disability

Section 4. A Financial Snapshot: Your Goals

Chapter 5: Keeping Your Financial Information Organized

Section 1. Where to Store or File Your Papers Section 2. A Filing System Section 3. List of Instructions

Part III: Income

Chapter 6: Legal Protections—Employment

Section 1. Employment

1.1 Covered Employers 1.2 Disability for Purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act 1.3 Hiring and Rehiring 1.4 Reasonable Accommodation: When a Disability Interferes with Work 1.5 Confidentiality and Disclosure 1.6 Protecting the Family and Friends of a Disabled Person from Discrimination at Work 1.7 Advancement Issues and Bonuses 1.8 If You Are Discriminated Against

Section 2: Leaves of Absence: Family and Medical Leave Act and the ADA

2.1 Leaves of Absence Under the FMLA 2.2 Leaves of Absence Under the ADA 2.3 Combining Your Rights to a Leave of Absence Under the ADA and the FMLA 2.4 The FMLA and “Nontraditional” Family Relationships 2.5 Unprotected Leave

Section 3. Benefit Protections While You Are Employed

3.1 ERISA 3.2 ADA

Section 4. Benefit Protections After Leaving Your Job: COBRA Section 5. Protecting Your Benefits After Leaving Your Job: Other Rights

5.1 Conversion 5.2 Changes in the Benefit Plan While You Are Exercising Continuation Rights 5.3 Disability Extension

Section 6. Health Insurance Protection: HIPAA

Chapter 7: Employment

Section 1. Reconsidering What You Do for a Living

1.1 Make Your Job Work Better for You 1.2 Is Now a Good Time to Change Jobs?

Section 2. Leaving Voluntarily

2.1 Considerations Before Leaving Your Current Job 2.2 Negotiate Before You Leave Your Job

Section 3. If You’re Fired Section 4. Looking for a New Job

4.1 Identify Your Ideal Job 4.2 Considerations Before Taking a New Job 4.3 Tips for a Job Interview

Chapter 8: Disability Income Replacement—Private and Government Programs

Section 1. Private Insurance: Individual Disability Income Insurance Section 2. Group Disability Income Insurance Section 3. Other Types of Group Disability Coverage

3.1 Group Short-Term Disability Coverage 3.2 Employer Salary-Continuation Plans (Sick Pay/Leave) 3.3 Workers’ Compensation 3.4 Group Life Insurance 3.5 Group Individual Retirement Plans

Section 4. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Section 5. Credit Disability Insurance Section 6. Individual Life Insurance Section 7. Coverage for Self-Employed Professionals and Small-Business Owners

7.1 Disability Income Policies 7.2 Other Coverages to Consider

Section 8. Federal Disability Programs

8.1 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) 8.2 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 8.3 Veterans’ Pensions

Section 9. State Coverage

9.1 Disability Insurance 9.2 Workers’ Compensation 9.3 Unemployment Insurance

Chapter 9: Preparing for the Possibility of Not Being Able to Work

Section 1. Preparing to Go on Disability—Long-Range Planning Section 2. Preparing to Go on Disability—Short-Range Planning

Chapter 10: Applying for Social Security: The Process

Section 1. Before You Begin Section 2. A Case Study Section 3. Preparing the Paperwork Section 4. Starting the Process

4.1 In-Person or Telephone Interview 4.2 A Representative 4.3 Documentation

Section 5. Determination of Disability Section 6. If Social Security Denies Your Claim Section 7. Hiring an Attorney

Chapter 11: On Disability

Section 1. What to Anticipate

1.1 The Emotional Experience 1.2 Checking on Whether You Are Still Disabled 1.3 If Payments Stop or May Stop

Section 2. Tips for People on Disability Leave Section 3. Returning to Work: Part-Time or Full-Time

3.1 What Work to Return To 3.2 Preparation 3.3 Your Private Disability Income Insurance 3.4 Your Health Insurance 3.5 Your Life Insurance 3.6 Effect of Earning Wages on SSD and SSI 3.7 Medicare 3.8 SSA Incentives to Return to Work 3.9 Inform SSA About Work 3.10 State Programs

Chapter 12: Retirement Planning

Section 1. Why Plan for Retirement? Section 2. How Much to Save for Retirement Section 3. Types of Investments Section 4. Overview of Retirement Plans Section 5. Government-Sponsored Retirement Plan—Social Security Retirement Benefits Section 6. Employer-Sponsored Plans Section 7. Individual-Sponsored Plans Section 8. Ten Commonsense Tips for Retirement Planning Success

Chapter 13: Investments

Section 1. How Much Time? Section 2. Personal Planning Section 3. Professional Advice Section 4. Develop Your Investment Strategy Section 5. Investment Criteria

5.1 Liquidity 5.2 Risk 5.3 Return 5.4 Fees 5.5 Taxes 5.6 Administration

Section 6. Investment Vehicles

6.1 Cash Equivalents 6.2 Mutual Funds 6.3 Tips Regarding Mutual Fund Taxes and Fees 6.4 Annuities

Section 7. An Example Section 8. Ten Commonsense Tips for Investment Success

Part IV: Protection Against Increased Expenses

Chapter 14: Health Insurance Coverage

Section 1. Private Health Insurance—Overview: From Indemnity to Managed Care Section 2. Indemnity Health Insurance: An Overview Section 3. Managed Care Health Insurance

3.1 An Overview 3.2 Evaluating Managed Care Plans

Section 4. Maximizing Use of Health Insurance (Indemnity and MCO) Section 5. Claims (Indemnity and MCO) Section 6. Appeals If Your Claim Is Rejected Section 7. Keeping Health Coverage Section 8. Obtaining Health Coverage Section 9. Legal Protections Section 10. Hospital Indemnity (Income) Coverage Section 11. Covering the Cost of Long-Term Care Section 12. Excess Major Medical Policies

Chapter 15: Medicare, Medicaid, and Other Government Programs

Section 1. Medicare

1.1 Eligibility 1.2 Benefits 1.3 MediGap 1.4 Medicare+Choice 1.5 The Relationship Between Medicare and Private Health Insurance 1.6 How to Apply for Medicare 1.7 If You Need Assistance to Pay for Medicare Part B Payments, Fees, and Deductibles

Section 2. Medicaid

2.1 Eligibility 2.2 Benefits 2.3 Impoverishing Yourself to Qualify for Long-Term Care 2.4 Appeals

Section 3. Hill-Burton—Free Hospital and Health Facility Care Section 4. Veterans’ Benefits Section 5. State and Local Programs

Chapter 16: Property and Casualty Insurance

Section 1. General Considerations When Purchasing Property and Casualty Insurance Section 2. Losses Section 3. The Coverages

3.1 Homeowners Insurance 3.2 Personal Articles Floaters: Jewelry and Fine Arts Coverage 3.3 Fire Insurance (aka Dwelling Insurance) 3.4 Rental Insurance 3.5 Liability Insurance 3.6 Why Purchase Fire and Liability Policies Separately Rather Than a Homeowners Policy? 3.7 Excess Liability and Umbrella Coverage 3.8 Automobile Insurance 3.9 Insurance When You Rent a Car 3.10 Workers’ Compensation Insurance 3.11 Travel Insurance 3.12 Other Property and Casualty Coverages

Chapter 17: Financial Management

Section 1. Money Management

1.1 Smart Spending 1.2 If Your Expenses Exceed Your Income 1.3 A Budget 1.4 Living with Your Budget

Section 2. Credit Management: Dealing with Creditors

2.1 Set Your Priorities 2.2 Create a Payment Plan 2.3 Put the Plan in Action 2.4 Available Assistance 2.5 A Word About Creditor Harassment

Section 3. Debt Management: Bankruptcy

3.1 Chapter 7 3.2 Chapter 13 3.3 Comparing Chapters 7 and 13 3.4 Considerations Prior to Pursuing Bankruptcy

Chapter 18: Tax

Section 1. Biographical Data

1.1 Filing Status 1.2 Dependents

Section 2. Income

2.1 Taxable Income 2.2 Nontaxable Income 2.3 Flexible Spending Accounts and Individual Spending Accounts 2.4 Medical Savings Accounts

Section 3. Adjustments to Gross Income

3.1 Self-Employed Insurance Premiums 3.2 Medical Payments as Alimony 3.3 Dependency 3.4 Itemization of Deductions 3.5 Medical Deductions 3.6 Charitable Contributions 3.7 Interest Deduction 3.8 Handicapped Expenses in the Workplace

Section 4. Credits

4.1 Dependent-Care Credit 4.2 Disability Credit 4.3 Employer-Provided Dependent-Care Credit

Section 5. Retirement Plans

5.1 Early Withdrawal of Retirement Funds 5.2 Employee Stock Ownership Plans

Section 6. Strategic Recognition of Income and Deductions Section 7. Audits

7.1 Avoiding an Audit 7.2 Delaying an Audit 7.3 Other Tips to Survive an Audit

Section 8. Other Matters

8.1 Getting Help with the Tax Code 8.2 General Considerations 8.3 Cheating

Part V: New Uses of Assets

Chapter 19: Life Insurance, a Liquid Asset

Section 1. Loans Against Your Life Insurance Policy

1.1 Loans from the Life Insurance Company—Cash Value 1.2 Loans from Private Individuals Secured by Your Life Insurance 1.3 Loans from Commercial Lenders Secured by Your Life Insurance 1.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Loan

Section 2. Accelerated Death Benefits Section 3. Viatical Settlements

3.1 Salability 3.2 Consequences of a Sale 3.3 Federal and State Regulation 3.4 Timing 3.5 Factors That Determine Price 3.6 Sale of Part of a Policy 3.7 Beneficiaries, Payment, and Monitoring 3.8 The Best Way to Sell a Policy

Section 4. Terminating Coverage

4.1 Individual Policies—Cash Surrender 4.2 Group Insurance—Leaving Your Job

Section 5. How to Obtain Life Insurance (Even with a Diagnosis of a Life-Challenging Condition)

5.1 Individual Life Insurance 5.2 Group Life Insurance

Chapter 20: Options for Converting Retirement Assets into Income

Section 1. Loans Section 2. Withdrawals

2.1 In General 2.2 Options Under Employer-Sponsored Plans 2.3 Options Under Individual-Sponsored Plans

Section 3. Transfers

3.1 Options Under Employer-Sponsored Plans 3.2 Options Under Individual-Sponsored Plans

Chapter 21: Rethinking Credit

Section 1. Credit Life Insurance Section 2. Credit Disability Insurance Section 3. Protect Your Credit Section 4. Getting More and Better Credit

4.1 If You Have Credit 4.2 If You Don’t Have Credit—Secured Credit Cards 4.3 If You Don’t Have Credit—Other Methods

Chapter 22: Real Property

Section 1. Purchasing Real Property

1.1 Advantages of Owning a Residence 1.2 Disadvantages of Owning a Residence 1.3 If You Decide to Purchase a Residence

Section 2. Home Equity Conversion Plans

2.1 Mortgage Refinancing 2.2 Home Equity Loans and Credit Lines 2.3 Sale Leaseback 2.4 Life Estate 2.5 Reverse Mortgages 2.6 Renting Your Residence in Whole or Part

Section 3. Selling Your House

Chapter 23: Other Assets

Section 1. Certificates of Deposit and Other Term Bank Accounts as Collateral for a Loan Section 2. Stocks and Bonds as Collateral for a Loan Section 3. Personal Property as Collateral for a Loan Section 4. Selling Personal Property

4.1 Prepare Well in Advance 4.2 Alternative Places to Consider for Selling Personal Property

Section 5. Charitable Donations

Part VI: Health Matters

Chapter 24: Doctors

Section 1. Choosing a Doctor

1.1 Two Routes to Choosing a Doctor 1.2 What to Look For 1.3 The Informational Interview 1.4 Managed Care Doctors 1.5 Alternative Care Practitioners

Section 2. What Do You Want to Know About Your Health and Treatment? Section 3. The Doctor/Patient Relationship Section 4. Visits with Your Doctor Section 5. Pain Section 6. Second Opinions Section 7. Medical Records

Chapter 25: Drugs and Treatments

Section 1. Your Rights Section 2. When Your Decision Is Required Section 3. Where to Find Information About Drugs, Treatments, and Your Condition Section 4. Refusal of Treatment Section 5. Prescription Drugs

5.1 If a New Drug Is Recommended 5.2 Follow the Orders 5.3 Monitor Your Progress on the Drug 5.4 Compliance Aids

Section 6. Purchasing Drugs

6.1 Choosing a Pharmacist 6.2 Choosing a Pharmacy 6.3 Mail Order Drugs 6.4 Buyers’ Clubs 6.5 Drugs from Foreign Countries 6.6 Insurance 6.7 Medicare/Medicaid 6.8 If You Can’t Afford a Drug 6.9 Taxes 6.10 Take Care

Section 7. Over-the-Counter Drugs Section 8. Experimental Drugs—Clinical Trials

8.1 In General 8.2 Costs 8.3 Before Joining Clinical Trials 8.4 Informed Consent 8.5 Locating Clinical Trials 8.6 Obtaining a New Drug Other Than Through a Clinical Trial

Section 9. Alternative Medicine and Treatments

9.1 In General 9.2 Herbs

Section 10. Health Supplements Section 11. Treatments

11.1 Decisions 11.2 Surgery 11.3 Chemotherapy 11.4 Radiation Therapy 11.5 Unproven Treatments

Chapter 26: Nutrition and Exercise

Section 1. Nutrition Section 2. Safe Food Handling Section 3. Exercise

Chapter 27: Home

Section 1. Housing Discrimination

1.1 Federal Protection: The Fair Housing Act 1.2 State Laws

Section 2. Staying in Your Own Home: Factors to Consider

2.1 Accessibility of the Premises 2.2 Availability of Medical Treatment 2.3 Your Finances 2.4 Emotional Considerations

Section 3. Home Health Care

3.1 Home Care Providers 3.2 Attendant Care 3.3 Nursing/Infusion Home Care 3.4 Medical Equipment at Home 3.5 Transportation 3.6 Food and Chores 3.7 Insurance

Chapter 28: Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

Section 1. Assisted Living or “Board and Care” Homes Section 2. Nursing Homes

2.1 Locating a Nursing Home 2.2 Assessing a Nursing Home 2.3 Payment 2.4 Complaints

Chapter 29: Hospitals

Section 1. Choosing the Right Hospital Section 2. Outpatient Section 3. Entering the Hospital

3.1 In General 3.2 Entering the Hospital Through the Emergency Room (ER) 3.3 Elective Admission to the Hospital

Section 4. Staying in the Hospital—Making the Best of It Section 5. Tips to Make Your Stay Easier Section 6. Money-Saving Tips Section 7. On Discharge from the Hospital

Chapter 30: Hospice Care

Section 1. Locating a Hospice Agency Section 2. Assessing a Hospice Agency Section 3. Evaluating Hospice Services Section 4. Payment

Chapter 31: Bodily Changes

Section 1. Looking Good Section 2. Hair Loss Section 3. Skin Changes Section 4. Dressing Section 5. Contraception and Sterility Section 6. Sex Section 7. Options for Coping with Body Changes

Part VII: Estate Planning

Chapter 32: Providing for the Possibility of Incapacitation

Section 1. An Overview of Advance Directives Section 2. Health Care Power of Attorney Section 3. Living Wills Section 4. Do Not Resuscitate Order Section 5. Guardianship Section 6. The Durable Power of Attorney Section 7. Revocable Living Trust Section 8. Preneed Decisions Concerning Minor Children

8.1 Guardian for Children 8.2 An Adoptive Family for Your Children 8.3 Foster Care

Section 9. Where to Store Advance Directives

Chapter 33: Providing for the Passage of Assets to Your Heirs

Section 1. In General Section 2. Your Will

2.1 Who Will Receive Your Assets 2.2 What They Will Receive 2.3 When They Will Receive 2.4 How the Disposition Will Be Administered 2.5 Protect Against Challenges 2.6 Writing Your Will Yourself 2.7 Where to Keep Your Will 2.8 Moving from State to State 2.9 Changing or Revoking Your Will

Section 3. Will Substitutes

3.1 Registration of Title 3.2 Registration of Bank Accounts in General 3.3 Totten Trusts 3.4 Custodial Accounts 3.5 Trusts in General 3.6 Revocable Living Trusts 3.7 Credit Shelter Trust/Bypass Trust 3.8 Irrevocable Living Trust 3.9 Charitable Remainder Trusts 3.10 Incorporation 3.11 Retirement Plans

Section 4. Minimizing Taxes

4.1 Gifts 4.2 If Your Net Worth Is Close to or More Than the Unified Gift-Estate Tax Amount 4.3 Trusts 4.4 Retirement Plans 4.5 Real Estate 4.6 Bonds 4.7 Debts 4.8 Liquidity

Section 5. What Your Heirs Can Expect

Chapter 34: Funeral Arrangements

Section 1. General Information to Think About Section 2. Disposition of the Remains Section 3. Ceremonies Section 4. Choosing a Resting Place Section 5. Payment Arrangements

Part VIII: Your Team and Other Matters

Chapter 35: Support Groups

Section 1. What Is a Support Group? Section 2. Why Join a Support Group? Section 3. How a Support Group Works Section 4. Different Types of Support Groups Section 5. How to Locate a Support Group

Chapter 36: Your Support Team

Section 1. General Considerations

1.1 How to Choose Team Members 1.2 Other Matters to Consider

Section 2. Physician Section 3. Lawyer

3.1 Do You Need a Lawyer? 3.2 What Type of Lawyer Is Right for You? 3.3 Communication 3.4 Fees 3.5 Prepaid Services, Clinics, and Legal Aid

Section 4. Financial Planner

4.1 Do You Need a Financial Planner? 4.2 Choosing a Financial Planner 4.3 Compensation and Loyalty 4.4 The Interview 4.5 A Good Financial Plan 4.6 Maximizing Use of a Financial Planner

Section 5. Accountant

5.1 Do You Need an Accountant? 5.2 Choosing an Accountant

Section 6. Insurance Broker Section 7. Stockbroker Section 8. Claims Assistance Section 9. Home Care Team Section 10. Pharmacist Section 11. Dentist Section 12. Nutritionist Section 13. Social Worker Section 14. Mental Health Provider (Psychiatrist/Psychologist) Section 15. Caregivers Section 16. Family and Friends Section 17. Clergy People/Spiritual Adviser Section 18. Malpractice/Errors and Omissions

Chapter 37: Travel

Section 1. In General Section 2. Choosing Your Destination Section 3. Making Travel Plans Section 4. Preparing for Your Trip Section 5. Packing for Your Trip Section 6. Planes and Trains Section 7. At Your Destination Section 8. Water Section 9. If You Become Ill While Away

Chapter 38: And …

Section 1. Medical Identification Section 2. Lying Section 3. Student Loans Section 4. Pets Section 5. Transportation to and from Physicians or Treatment Centers Section 6. Parking Spots for the Disabled Section 7. Other Legal Rights

7.1 Public Accommodations 7.2 Communications 7.3 Federally Assisted Programs and Activities 7.4 New Construction and Alterations 7.5 Transportation

Afterword Resources Bibliography Index Copyright

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