With all of the changing laws regarding healthcare and Medicare, it can be difficult knowing what is actually going on regarding your own coverage. When you are trying to help a loved one find senior care, knowing how to navigate someone else’s coverage is even more confusing.
Here, we hope to answer a few of the common questions that people have about their insurance, and hopefully clear up misconceptions that occur.
Please keep in mind that we are not insurance specialists. But because these questions are so common, we did want to present some answers to help get you started in finding answers. Please get in touch with an insurance expert if you have unanswered questions.
Does Medicare cover senior care?
Usually, Medicare does not cover senior care, simply because senior care is very seldomly considered to be medical care. Most of the time, things like in-home care, assisted living, and nursing homes are not covered by Medicare because these services are geared toward what’s called custodial care, and not medical treatment. There are exceptions, but they are rare. These services focus on the activities of daily living, like eating, getting dressed and groomed, and getting around. These are important things, but they are not covered by Medicare. Things like home health care, hospice care, and care in a skilled nursing facility are covered, but not always for extended periods of time.
If you’re unsure where you fall when it comes to care, speak with a professional in the field.
What if Medicare won’t cover me?
Medicare will often decide that a treatment is not covered by them. This sometimes happens before treatment, and it will sometimes occur if they decide that the treatment that you are receiving isn’t necessary any more. If you find yourself in such a situation, you do have the right to appeal the decision. If you are unable to make the appeal yourself, you also have the right to appoint someone to do so for you. You will need to fill out a form to authorize such an appointment.
How Can I Pay for Senior Care?
Paying for senior care of any sort can be a trying expense. If you’re unsure of how to pay for care, please keep in mind that Medicare is not the only benefit that you have. There are many resources out there, and using those will be far more helpful than paying out of pocket. Long term care insurance, Medicaid, VA Benefits, and more exist to help you and your family afford the senior years. Looking into how they might help is a good idea if you want to offset your expenses.
Things are always changing. That’s one of the first things you learn when you start dealing with senior care and health care regulations. This does make things confusing on all ends. If you do have any more questions, it is always best to get in touch with a licensed professional regarding your particular situation. The information provided here is very general and designed to help you get pointed toward the right resources.
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