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Things You Need to Know About Medicare and Medicaid |
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Confused about the
relationship between Medicare, Medicaid and long term housing solutions? Read
below for some clarification.
Medicare and Medicaid Info
Medicare
Many people mistakenly believe that Medicare, which is administered by
the Health Care Financing Administration, covers the costs of most
long-term care services. In reality, Medicare only covers short- term,
acute care during a hospital stay.
Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides insurance to millions of Americans who meet the following criteria:
1. People who are 65 years of age
2. People who are disabled; and
3. People with permanent kidney failure.
Medicare (Part A) may help to pay for nursing care only if a person meets all of the following conditions:
4. A person requires daily skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation
services that can only be received in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF).
This need must be certified by a doctor.
5. A person has been
hospitalized for at least three days in a row (not including the day of
discharge) prior to entering a SNF.
6. A person enters the SNF within a short time (usually 30 days) after leaving the hospital.
7. A person's care is for an illness that was treated in the hospital
or arose when he or she was in a SNF for an illness treated in a
hospital.
Medicare (Part A) can help pay up to 100 days of
skilled care in a SNF during a benefit period. It pays for all covered
services for the first 20 days. For days 21-100, a daily co-insurance
amount can be charged to a Medicare recipient. If a person requires
more than a 100 days in a benefit period, he or she is responsible for
all charges beginning with the 101st day of continued residence at a
SNF.
Medicaid
Medicaid is an assistance
program jointly financed by federal and state governments for needy and
low-income people of all ages. Using broad federal guidelines, states
design their own programs. Therefore, exact details of eligibility will
vary from state to state.
Under certain qualifying conditions,
Medicaid will pay for care in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and
also Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs). Depending on the situation,
if a person is eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare will
pay for its allowable benefits period if all requirements are met,
after which, Medicaid will take over the financial assistance.
Private Insurance Policies
Some insurance companies offer private insurance policies specifically
for long-term nursing home care. These policies vary widely in coverage
and cost, and it is important to understand precisely what kind of
policy you are purchasing.
Make sure the policy being
considered does not duplicate skilled nursing facility coverage
provided by any coordinated care plan such as Medicare or Medicaid or
other coverage already received. Check for any prerequisites required
before the company will pay benefits. For example, ask if the company
requires that a patient have prior hospitalization before any benefits
are paid out. Some diseases such as arthritis-related problems and
Alzheimer's do not require hospitalization before the need for nursing
care arises.
If possible, seek an insurance policy that pays
benefits immediately upon entry into a nursing care facility. Many
insurance policies, which are purchased prior to the need for nursing
care, require a waiting period after entry into a nursing care facility
before payments are made. It is highly unlikely that nursing care
insurance can be purchased after a person has entered a nursing care
facility.
Another private insurance policy, Medigap
supplemental insurance, is designed to close the gap between medical
costs and amounts paid by Medicare. However, both Medicare and Medigap
are primarily designed for short term, acute care and, consequently,
are unlikely to meet the long-term needs of nursing care residents.
As in all insurance policies, it is vital that you understand exactly
what your policy covers. Specific questions about policies should be
directed to your state's insurance commissioner.
(Information provided by the Better Business Bureau)
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