Search:

Would you like to contribute to this site? Healthcare Menu Submit an Article Submit a Tip Place your Ad Add URL Healthcare Questions? Contact Us  Affordable Health Care   Private Health Care   Family Health Care   Universal Healthcare   Health Care Providers   Health Care Plans   Health Coverage   Medical Coverage   Low Cost Healthcare   Health Care Info   Healthcare Management   Healthcare Management Training   Healthcare Data Management   Healthcare Career   Hospital Jobs   Home Health Care   Managed Care   Hospice Care   Home Care   Senior Care   Senior Assisted Living   HMO   PPO   Medicaid   Medicare   Medicare Supplement   Healthcare Insurance   Healthcare Insurance Company   Health Insurance Quotes   Affordable Health Insurance   Business Health Insurance   Corporate Wellness Programs   Affordable Health Ins State   Medical Insurance   Medical Billing   Medical Coding   Medical Transcription   Medical Jobs   Medical Equipment   Medical Supplies

Return To Healthcare Article Archive   Search the Article Archives Won't Medicare Pay for Our Long Term Care? By Clay Cotton Fact: Medicare is NOT DESIGNED to cover long term care. It was designed primarily to help with short term rehabilitation. 'How much WILL the government actually pay?' Medicare does not pay for long term care expenses. Medicare does cover some limited convalescent skilled nursing care and some limited home health care under restrictive, short-term conditions, but not for long term care. This short-term care is usually limited to 100 days, and to get it the following conditions must be met: * For Medicare you must have been in a hospital for at least three days immediately prior to entering the nursing facility. This eliminates most Alzheimers and Parkinsons cases. * For Medicare you must go into the facility for the same condition for which you were previously hospitalized, and it must be within thirty days of discharge. * For Medicare you must be getting better each day. Once you level off, Medicare stops paying. In any case, Medicare covers only Skilled Nursing care and does not cover Intermediate or Custodial care at all! Susan L. McGloghlon, president of the American HealthCare Institute National Medicare Recovery Services, Inc. states, 'There are no limits to the number of benefit periods (100 days) that a Part A Beneficiary is entitled to in a Skilled nursing Facility, provided you meet the criteria as set forth by HCFA.' But the catch is in 'the criteria as set forth by HCFA'. If you study the fine print, you may find that the cold hard fact is: If you ever need prolonged, 'long term' care, say for Alzheimers or Parkinsons... It will not be covered by Medicare. Medicare, HMOs, Major Medical and Medigap insurance do not pay for long term nursing home care stays. A one year stay in a nursing home can cost anywhere from $42,000 - $191,000 per year, depending upon the nursing homes locale. Insurance can be purchased to help pay for these costs. Without it, your family nest egg can be wiped out. The well spouse can be left without financial resources for their living expenses. Long term care issues are bound to become more contentious as budget balancers seek to slow the growth of federal Medicare and Medicaid... Many proposed cuts have already passed. If we accept the fact that the cost of long term care is going to continually rise and that programs such as Medicare are realizing marked reductions in funding, we also must accept that the responsibility for long term care expenses will rest squarely on us.' In fact, with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, that is exactly the message from Washington. The message: Take care of your self, and look out for your own. Don't count on Uncle Sam. About the Author: Long term care insurance activist, Clay Cotton, writes for http://www.PrepSmart.com - The Online Baby Boomers Decision Assistance Center, where you get Free Long Term Care Insurance advice, comparative rate quotes and personal guidance, all while safely at home in your favorite pajamas and bunny slippers. Emergency Medical Technician

Get your Healthcare questions answered... Subscribe to our Healthcare Newsletter FREE! Your First Name: Your Email Address: Enter above security code

Home  |   Ask the Healthcare Expert  |   Healthcare Archive  |   Healthcare RSS Feeds  |   Advertise  |   Sitemap