Richard L Kaplan

Richard L. Kaplan is the Guy Raymond Jones Chair and Professor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law, with an affiliation in Biomedical and Translational Sciences. His expertise spans elder law, health law, income tax, retirement planning, and ERISA. He holds a J.D. from Yale University and a B.S. from Indiana University. Professor Kaplan’s research focuses on Medicare policy, long-term care financing, tax reform, and retirement security. His work addresses challenges such as inherited retirement accounts, tax implications of aging populations, and the intersection of family law with elder care.

His research collaborations span international and interdisciplinary domains, reflecting his engagement with global healthcare and tax policy issues. Notable contributions include analyzing the SECURE Act’s impact on retirement savings, critiquing Medicare for All proposals, and exploring nonmarital relationships in estate planning. Kaplan frequently presents invited talks on tax reform and caregiving economics, contributing to public discourse through media commentary on retirement benefits, Social Security, and healthcare costs.

His scholarship combines legal analysis with policy advocacy, emphasizing proactive solutions to aging-related challenges. Recent articles highlight evolving tax strategies for retirement plans, the decline of inherited IRA appeal, and the need to address systemic disparities in healthcare access.