All around the country, local and state governments are experimenting with Medicaid rules to help people stay out of nursing homes. Nursing homes are extremely costly, and other, less intensive types of care, like in-home care and assisted living facilities, are much cheaper. And for most people, they provide more than enough care to help them stay as healthy as possible.
Nursing homes do serve a purpose and many of those that live in these facilities need the care that they provide. There are many legitimate reasons why a nursing home is the best place for someone to be. However, this does not change the fact that nursing homes are extremely expensive. It also does not change the fact that nursing homes are not right for everyone, and because of the way that Medicaid and Medicare laws are written, many people find themselves residing in a nursing home not because it is the best or most cost effective type of care for them, but because it is the only form of senior care that their insurance will cover. This puts the person’s individual needs last, and focuses more on what’s easiest for bureaucracies to handle. The person in need’s quality of life suffers as a result of this.
What has been observed in many cases is that while these laws were originally put in place to help people, the law cannot take individuals into account. Those that are caught in the grey areas, or those that find themselves on the wrong side of the “bubble” as laws continue to change, are negatively impacted. For example, In Washington D.C., where Medicaid coverage for those receiving in-home care is still evolving, some people that once were having their in-home care covered by Medicaid are finding that they are no longer eligible because of fluctuating income requirements. It is hard to make long term plans for a loved one’s care–or your own–when you are not sure if your coverage will remain constant from one day to the next.
Unfortunately, people do get hurt by these things. The government has a job to do, and regardless of what your politics are, when someone that you love is on the losing end of a law change, it hurts the whole family. This is why we stress the importance of individualized care.
If you have questions about paying for senior care of any type, or if you just want to learn what your loved one’s insurance will and won’t cover, it’s important to speak to a professional today. Senior care is one of the most important things that an elderly individual in need can have going for them, and as family members, we need to advocate for our loved ones. Knowing what is provided, and knowing what more is needed is a key part of helping them. This way, there are few to no surprises. This way, we can better plan for the future of our loved ones and give them the high quality of assistance that they deserve.
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