More than 70 million people nationwide rely on Medicare, with many California residents depending specifically on Medi-Cal services. Recognizing the serious threat that potential federal funding cuts pose to these vital programs, Absolute Trust Counsel’s founder and Managing Attorney, Kirsten Howe, proactively reached out to local media to raise awareness of this critical consumer issue. Her advocacy led to a featured segment on KRON4 News on April 4, 2025, where she shared her expertise and concerns about the impact these cuts could have on vulnerable seniors.
During the 6:00 PM news segment, Kirsten provided critical insights on how these potential cuts could devastate elderly Californians and their families. With skilled nursing facility costs averaging $12,775 per month in the San Francisco Bay Area and in-home care reaching a staggering $30,576 monthly, Medi-Cal serves as a crucial lifeline for seniors who cannot afford these essential services long-term.
As highlighted in the interview, Kirsten emphasized practical advice for families facing uncertainty: “Saving as much as you can, downsizing, you know, minimizing whatever you need to do. But I mean, these benefits are often for someone in a skilled nursing facility, and that’s where they live. And that’s where they get their medical care.”
Interview Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:15 Community reaction to potential cuts
0:30 Matthew Lubinsky shares his perspective on in-home services
0:45 Explanation of the Medi-Cal program and its importance
1:05 Expert advice from Kirsten Howe on preparing for potential cuts
1:25 White House statement and ongoing community concerns
Why This Matters
The interview featured Matthew Lubinsky, a local senior, with whom Kirsten helped connect with KRON4 to share his story. Matthew benefits from Medi-Cal and expressed how vital these services are: “In-home services actually save the state and the country money because they keep individuals like myself out of nursing homes, which costs twice, if not significantly more, than if we’re in our own homes.”
As Kirsten notes from her 26+ years of experience helping elderly clients navigate complex healthcare systems, these are basic care needs that many elderly Californians face, with costs that few families can sustain for long. Medi-Cal’s intervention allows seniors to remain in their homes, receiving professional care while preserving their dignity and their family’s financial security.
A Call for Careful Review
While the White House has stated it has no plans to cut these programs, many seniors and their families remain concerned. Having witnessed firsthand the impact these services have on elderly clients and their families, Kirsten felt compelled to speak out and advocate for a surgical approach rather than sweeping cuts when addressing program inefficiencies.
As noted in her outreach to media outlets, “The responsible way to address inefficiencies is to analyze the programs and their spending carefully and make needed and appropriate changes – to use a scalpel, not a chainsaw,” Kirsten explains.
If you have questions about topics covered in this interview or other legal matters related to estate planning, trust administration, probate, Medi-Cal planning, or special needs planning, please don’t hesitate to contact Absolute Trust Counsel by calling 925.943.2740 or emailing info@absolutetrustcounsel.com.
Interested in having Kirsten on for an interview? Send us a message by emailing info@absolutetrustcounsel.com, and we’ll reach out to you to discuss your needs, or feel free to call us at 925.943.2740. To learn more about Kirsten and her areas of expertise, please visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/presentations/.
