Pending Medicare Settlement Means More Can Get Home Health Care
Every once in a while a piece of senior-care news comes along that sweeps the media. Story after story comes out about it. Such is the case with a recent Medicare settlement. And the attention is well-deserved. The settlement is set to, as Reuters puts it in their headline, “change lives.”
For decades, reports The New York Times, in order for Medicare to pay for home health-care, Medicare beneficiaries have had to show a likelihood of improvement. When you have a degenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s, that’s kinda impossible. This settlement nixes that requirement. Reports the Times:
Moreover, the settlement specifies that skilled care can qualify for Medicare coverage even if it merely maintains someone’s current condition or prevents or slows further deterioration.
The judge still has to approve the settlement, and that could take a couple of months, the Times says. But in the meantime, you can still try to get coverage under the new rules. Both articles have tips on that. (In the Reuters article, scroll to the bottom section.) This settlement doesn’t change the fact that Medicare still covers little unskilled care—things like help with everyday activities such as eating and bathing.
You can compare home health-care agencies in your area here. (Look for agencies that offer medical, or skilled, care.)
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
