Eldercare: Twenty-Three Things I Learned (the Hard Way) about Medicare, Medicaid, Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

by Ruth Alvarez

Baby boomer and eldest daughter, Ruth Alvarez became responsible to see three elderly relatives received the care they needed both at home and later in nursing homes.

She learned the intricacies of America’s key systems for senior citizens and offers the tips to navigate those systems whether for yourself or for a loved one.

Topics in this report

Medicare
1. Medicare is not mandatory
2. If you want Medicare including Part D prescription coverage,
enroll as soon as you’re able
3. COBRA coverage does not extend your enrollment period
4. Being self-employed doesn’t delay your enrollment period
5. Medicare rarely covers ‘activities of daily living’
Medicaid
6. Your coverage depends more on the state in which you live than the federal government
7. You can protect a disabled child
8. You may have trouble finding a doctor who will treat you
9. Adult dental care is very limited
Assisted Living
10. Don’t count on Medicare or Medicaid paying for this
11. Your state regulates assisted living
12. Assisted living isn’t a substitute for a nursing home
13. Don’t overlook private homes
14. You may be able to get paid for taking care of elderly relatives
Nursing Homes
15. Being nice is the way to start
16. Medicare payments are limited
17. The three-day rule trips up lots of people
18. Medicare doesn’t pay 100% of the costs either
19. ‘Medicaid Pending’ means trouble
20. There is a way to have Medicaid pay your nursing home even if your monthly income is too high
21. New laws haven’t always helped
22. Be realistic about what the law can do
Important for All
23. You need a Power of Attorney to help an elderly relative. Privacy laws will prevent any doctor from talking to you without the patient's permission.

Learn what to do now before it becomes an emergency.

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2012