It’s vital that you know that Medicare Supplement Plans don’t cover everything and that they differ from Medicare Advantage Plans. Also, you must separately enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription plan.
Assisted Living Coverage
Medicare doesn’t cover the costs or residency related to assisting residents with tasks like dressing or bathing in an assisted living facility. There are some benefits Medicare will cover once a person lives in an assisted living facility.
Specifically, even though you need to figure out other methods of paying the expenses of residing at the facility for yourself or your family member, you still get your Part A and Medicare Part B benefits if you are enrolled.
Call a senior care or Medicare rep to learn more information about assisted living and Medicare
Coverage for Memory Care
At a 2018 Medicare Learning Network conference, speakers introduced some shocking information regarding memory care and its impact on people, as well as expenses associated with Medicare coverage.
Dementia is thought to be an “Umbrella term” for defining various cognitive impairment dementias and symptoms. While Alzheimer’s is the main kind of memory problem, vascular, Lewy bodies, and other types comprise a few conditions likely needing memory care, with the majority of expenses borne by Medicaid and Medicare.
Recent rises in funding for research, as well as care of people who have memory care problems mean Medicare realizes costs related to memory care and the truth that it impacts entire families, and not simply individuals.
Covering some expenses related to memory care lessens the burden of associated expenses on individuals, as well as their families for hospice care, palliative care, and ongoing care.
Coverage for Hospice Care
Medicare will cover some expenses related to hospice care if you or a family member meets rules established by Medicare. Your physician certifies that you have 6 months or less to live, should the terminal illness run its usual course.
If you have Part A coverage, you’ll sign a statement indicating that you want hospice care instead of other kinds of Medicare-covered procedures. You accept comfort, or palliative care, instead of curative care for the terminal condition.
Even though there aren’t any deductibles for hospice care covered by Medicare, you continuously pay Medicare Part A and B premiums.
Many services associated with hospice care covered by Medicare are offered in the comfort of your own home. Learn more information about:
- speech and occupational therapy
- therapies like physical therapy
- social worker coverage
- prescription drug coverage to alleviate pain or symptoms
- hospice aide benefits
- homemaker services
- hospice coverage for nursing and physician services
- benefit coverage periods
and additional coverage for hospice care benefits offered by Medicare here.
Coverage for Respite Care
Medicare only covers respite care for caregivers under hospice benefits offered by Medicare.
Medicare will cover 5 days of back-to-back respite care in an inpatient facility to provide caregivers a break from taking care of family members or when something comes up in which a caregiver temporarily can’t offer care.
Also, you pay 5% of respite care expenses in a Medicare-approved facility.