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Summary of Medicare benefits, rights and protections, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare. (PDF, 136 pages)
If you're curious about how much care costs, this reference provides national and state averages.
This site offers details on Medicare coverage, plan options, and downloadable forms for claims and appeals.
Are you wondering if a medical expense is covered by Medicare? Use their calculator on medicare.gov to find out.
Who Pays For Long-Term Care?
Not Medicare. Medicare generally only pays for short-term care for rehabilitation purposes.
There are three basic ways to pay for long-term care:
If your parent has one of the Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) – like an HMO or PPO – or some other Medicare health plan, then he or she may be covered for long-term care in a nursing home. Apparently, some nursing homes have arrangements with specific HMOs and PPOs, and these are worth looking into. Also, importantly, if your parent’s a veteran, there are all kinds of benefits available. To find out more about veteran’s benefits, call 800-827-1000.
There are three basic ways to pay for long-term care:
- Your parent would use his or her own financial resources,
- Long-term care insurance, if your parent has a policy, or
- Medicaid, if your parent qualifies, and, generally, Medicaid only covers nursing homes, though some states now pay for assisted-living facilities as well. The business office in the nursing home should be able to answer your eligibility questions.
If your parent has one of the Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) – like an HMO or PPO – or some other Medicare health plan, then he or she may be covered for long-term care in a nursing home. Apparently, some nursing homes have arrangements with specific HMOs and PPOs, and these are worth looking into. Also, importantly, if your parent’s a veteran, there are all kinds of benefits available. To find out more about veteran’s benefits, call 800-827-1000.
According to How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, doctors listen to patients, on average, for only 18 seconds before interrupting them, which leads to a 15-20% misdiagnosis rate. It's a good idea, then, to be prepared for doctor's visits by making a list of questions and concerns.
"Top Ten Things to Know If You're Interested in a Reverse Mortgage" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
"How Will the Law Affect Medicare Advantage?" by The New York Times
"How Will the Law Affect Medicare Advantage?" by The New York Times
