Page 16 - Valley Life & Health

16 SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 THE MORNING CALL
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Why it’s important oofing, windows and siding are arguably the cleaning, and other issues that are weather-related.
most important components of your home.
Roofing with a slope of less than a 4 pitch should not
to maintain your R After all, they keep nature’s elements – like be shingled, as the shingles will then fail prematurely.
rain and wind – out of the building. The critical and
Poorly or improperly vented roofing often leads to
roofand aesthetic function they serve should help ease any mold and condensation issues in an attic or top floor
of the home. Today’s shingles should have 6 nails per
pain when it comes to replacement costs, but for
shingle, not 4; nails are also supposed to penetrate
that kind of money, you want to make sure the job is
the plywood. Finally, shingle roofs are not meant to be
done right.
home replacement and repair services for shingles, wood cleaned. The next time you have the urge to pressure
Paul Wright Roofing in Allentown specializes in
wash the house, avoid the roof and stick to the siding.
When something goes wrong with your roof,
shakes, metal roofing, and copper and slate roofing.
They also install and repair siding, soffit, fascia, and
it’s typically not expected, and it’s natural that
exterior seamless gutters. Roof maintenance is so important you’ll want it fixed immediately. Acting quickly is
imperative, so your first step should be to call The
because every day, your roof is exposed to elements
that may contribute to decay and deterioration,
Wright Guys so that they can properly diagnose the
increasing the risk of damage to the roof itself and the
contents below it. With proper care, a roof can last problem and recommend the most cost effective
repair. They will send a trained professional to meet
an average of 15 to 30 years, so it’s a good idea to with you at a convenient time and let you know if
have it inspected at least once every few years. you’re looking at a full roof replacement or a major
What are some reasons your roof may fail? Chief or minor repair. You’ll receive a full explanation of
among them is hiring the wrong roofing company. your situation, detailed estimate, and answers to any
Who installs your roof and how they do it is as questions you may have.
important as what they install, and every installation People often take their roof for granted because
is different. Paul Wright Roofing has been serving the it’s above their heads, so roof maintenance can be
greater Lehigh Valley area since 1990 and their roofing easy to forget about. Your roof is part of your home’s
experts have more than a hundred years of combined curb appeal and you want your house to look good
experience and will treat your home and your entire both inside and out. Knowing that your roof is in good
property with due courtesy and respect. shape will give you peace of mind. It’s best to stay
Other reasons that your roof could fail include ahead of problems with routine maintenance, but
the steepness of the slope, improper ventilation, when something goes wrong, you can count on Paul
the size and number of nails in the roof, excessive Wright Roofing to exceed expectations.

Medicaid–With“GiftAnnuity”

YouDon’tHavetoWaitFiveYears

ursing homes cost over $125,000 a year. to the date of application for benefits. Not so
Medicare and health insurance don’t with gift & annuity.
Npay for this. Fortunately, Medicaid does. During the penalty period the income from
But impoverishment is the price of admission the SPIA pays for the individual’s care. When
into the Medicaid program. While most spend the penalty period expires the applicant qualifies
themselves broke, a savvy few manage to qualify for Medicaid.
for Medicaid without forfeiting their estate. One STANLEY M. VASILIADIS is a Certified
way for single clients to do that is with the “gift Elder Law Attorney as accredited by the
& annuity” strategy. Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is a long-time
Under gift & annuity, persons gift a member of the National Academy of Elder Law
substantial portion of their estate – typically Attorneys, charter member of the Academy
about half of their assets – outright or into of Special Needs Planners, and Past-President
a trust. At the same time, the remaining Stanley M. Vasiliadis, Esquire, CELA, Vasiliadis Pappas of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law
assets are converted into an income stream Associates LLC Attorneys. Vasiliadis successfully litigated the
via purchase of a Single Premium Immediate landmark elder law case, Mertz v. Houstoun,
Annuity, or “SPIA.” An individual pays an up- to the period of ineligibility for Medicaid imposed and has received numerous awards in his field,
front lump sum to the insurance company to because of the gift. including the Excellence in Elder Law Award by
buy a SPIA. Beginning the following month, the It’s not illegal to make gifts and then seek to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and recognition
insurance company makes monthly payments qualify for Medicaid. But a penalty for gifting is as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by Philadelphia
to the owner for life or for a fixed term. This imposed in the form of a period of ineligibility Magazine every year since 2005. He is Of
guarantees the owner a fixed income. for benefits. The penalty period is calculated Counsel with Vasiliadis Pappas Associates LLC,
With gift & annuity, the SPIA meets specified based upon the size of the gift. A larger gift located in Bethlehem. The firm serves clients
legal requirements under the Medicaid law. It incurs a longer period of ineligibility. Many in the fields of long-term care planning, trust &
pays out equal monthly installments for a fixed mistakenly believe Medicaid eligibility can’t be estate administration, estate & tax planning, asset
period. That fixed payout period corresponds achieved if gifting occurs within five years prior protection planning, and special needs planning.