Medicare

What to Ask When Medicare Pays for Care at Home

May 30, 2011

I hope by now it’s clear: Medicare does not pay for ongoing help at home. However, if your aging parent has what’s known as a “skilled need” (i.e. a medical need for the skilled assistance of a nurse, physical therapist or speech pathologist), Medicare will pay for the skilled assistance AND often a home health [...]

Read the full article →

Medicare vs. Medicaid – What’s the Difference & Who Qualifies?

May 23, 2011

  Medicare vs. Medicaid – These terms are confused all the time and there’s three good reasons why: 1) Medicare and Medicaid are both federal health insurance programs 2) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the governing body for both 3) Let’s face it – they sound alike. So let’s set the record [...]

Read the full article →

A Short Guide to Medicare’s Parts

May 12, 2011

Before I review Medicare’s four parts, here are a few must-know points about the overall program: Medicare is a form of federal health insurance Not everyone qualifies for Medicare Medicare provides short-term coverage for acute needs ONLY Medicare is not the same as Medicaid For more information on the above, check back in a few [...]

Read the full article →

The Biggest Misconception About Elder Care (and the Truth)

March 21, 2011

Are you new to providing care to an aging parent? Maybe your mother’s health has only recently begun to decline or your father has fallen for the first time and now requires assistance… If I’m talking to you then there’s a good chance that you may have some misconceptions about elder care. Why? Because caregiving [...]

Read the full article →

Seven Things Medicare Still Doesn’t Pay For

January 15, 2011

Medicare will not pay for the long term care needs of your aging parent. Surprised? Many people are. That’s because Medicare – the federal health insurance program for people over the age of 65, some disabled people under the age of 65, and anyone of any age with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) — is [...]

Read the full article →