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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.
Documents You'll Need
It’s vital to have certain legalities in place.
- Durable Power-of-Attorney - This allows a trusted person or persons to handle your parent's personal business affairs, from banking to investments to real estate, etc. A "durable" power-of-attorney is preferable to a standard power of attorney because it's set up specifically to deal with the possibility of your parent's becoming disabled or incapacitated.
- Living Will - This is essential as an advance medical directive regarding any life-prolonging procedures (such as being kept alive on life-support equipment). A living will can also direct any organ donation, if this is your parent's choice. A living will is not a Do Not Resuscitate order (commonly called a DNR). A DNR form can be picked up in any hospital and must be signed by your parent's doctor. It's undoubtedly difficult to talk with our parent about personal end-of-life wishes, but it's very important to do so. These issues can prove to be divisive to a family if your parent's requests have not already been put down in writing.
- Healthcare Proxy – This is necessary in case your parent is incapable of making his or her own healthcare choices regarding such options as surgery, hospice, experimental treatments, etc. A living will already designates a healthcare proxy, but if your parent decides against a living will, it's essential to have a healthcare proxy drawn up separately.
- Will or Trust – This makes certain that your parent's final decisions regarding the disposition of any estate are known.
To draw up these documents, you can either use an attorney or do it yourself with the help of an online site such as Nolo.com, which offers blank forms for these various documents. If you have a complicated legal situation, we recommend you hire an attorney.
Get a copy of the medical chart before your parent leaves the hospital so that you have it in your hands for the next appointment outside of the hospital.
"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
