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Critter Corner: One-Stop Resource for Medicare Offerings

Angel the catDear Angel,

I recently signed up for Medicare. What is the best place to go to find out about all of the offerings, including preventative care and chronic care management?

Thanks for your help!

Juan Stopp

Dear Juan,

Coverage to Care initiative created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help people with new Medicare coverage understand their benefits. The resources help enrollees connect to primary care and preventive services that are right for them.

These are links to some of the features of this helpful resource:

Medicare Doesn’t Cover Long Term Care

Medicare covers a lot of preventive care and most medical services associated with illnesses. But there are things it doesn’t cover, such as most dental, vision and hearing care, cosmetic surgery and other services. Perhaps most importantly, Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care, also known as custodial care, which can take place at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. There is a more than 70% chance that you will need some sort of long-term care in the future, but Medicare will NOT cover any of those costs. Nor does any private health insurance cover any long-term care costs because in the United States, long-term care is considered to be something completely different from healthcare, even though the need for both arise from the same underlying health conditions.

Medicare Part A provides coverage for short-term stays in nursing homes, but only for rehabilitation for people who continue to improve or for those who need skilled nursing care such as assistance with complex wound dressings, tube feedings, or rapidly changing health status. If you only require custodial care, such as help with bathing, dressing, and eating, that is considered long-term care and not healthcare, and is not covered by Medicare.

If you or a loved one is nearing the need for long-term care or already receiving long-term care, please call the Farr Law Firm to make an appointment. It is never too late to work with an experienced elder law attorney who is an expert in Medicaid asset protection planning and can help you and your family protect your assets so that you do not have to go broke paying for long-term care.

For more details on Medicare, please read Mr. Farr’s many articles on the subject.

Hope this helps!
Angel

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About Renee Eder

Renee Eder is the Director of Public Relations for the Farr Law Firm, and gives the voice to the Critters of Critter Corner. Renee’s poodle, Penny, is an official comfort dog who she and her children bring to visit with seniors who are in the early stages of dementia at a local senior home once a month.