Medicare little help.

[mykpart]

My mother has Alzheimers and is also extremely hard of hearing. Medicare does not cover hearing aids nor long term care. Long term care can run $3000 a month. I guess the only way around it is work until you drop dead, and make sure you die young. No, that won't work if you have dementia; you can't hold a job.

[virgogal]

1. Medicaid will help.

[mykpart]

6. Medicaid will only help after she sells her home and

has spent the proceeds and has assets of no more than $2000. That's what we're doing now, but what a blow to her dignity. She worked until she was 75 and was proud that her home was paid for.

[Peregrine Took]

12. Yet on the radio they advertise a law firm that says make the "government"

pay for your "loved ones" in nursing homes.

This firm will show you how its done - the protection of the assets so they can be passed on to the heirs.

How do they do this and how is it legal?

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Long term care is the death tax for ordinary people.

They let you go onto medicaid after they extract your entire estate from you. Sorry that you're going through this. :(

[iamjoy]

5. I'm Lucky, I Guess

My company offered Long Term Care insurance with no Proof of Good Health required. At the time, doctors thought I may have MS, although later they determined I didn't. Anyway, I told my husband I wanted to get it and he was reluctant. I told him the alternative was he had to promise if I got sick and needed skilled care, he had to divorce me. He was horrified. I advised him that we worked hard to save money for our retirement and I would not have him impoverished because of my health. We got the policy, it's financial protection more than anything else.

My grandmother needs skilled care, so after going through her entire savings, she was able to get Medicaid.

It's horrible. I never thought of it as the Death Tax for the working person, but you're right, it is. Any working person who dies following a long illness leaves little if any inheritance - it's all sucked away by the costs Medicare doesn't cover.

[glinda]

3. I am sorry

My husband is now just signing up for it and the savings is only a few dollars from our regular insurance which we have to continually sell his stocks and take out of his retirement monthly to pay. I am sorry about your situation and my husband is most likely showing early signs of Alzheimer's also. I can sympathize.

[jwirr]

4. Medicaid takes over after the patient has been in a nursing home

for 180 days. You need to contact your county department of human services. It was intended to be that way because those who have money would pay what they could while Medicaid would help when there is no money. This is one reason I object to the use of Medicare as the model for a universal health care program.

[catnhatnh]

7. Okay...real and actual help for the hearing part...

look up the local Lions Club-hearing aids are their thing. They paid for both examinations and a state of the art unit for my mom WHILE dad was still alive.They owned their own home and both received SS and Dad a small union pension. So I'll guess your mom is eligible.Any questions PM me and I'll help all I can.The other huge part-sorry,no help here-dad died in a home just over a year ago and mom would have lost the house except for veterans benefits. Now mom hears OK but is loosing lucidity...

[Plausible]

8. veterans homes

also take everything. Uncle had to stay in one, they took his house and I don't know what else.

[catnhatnh]

10. Actually, this one didn't...

and was cheaper than non-vet homes. But won't argue it...that's what happened here,your results may vary.

[Plausible]

9. Any figures on how much long term care insurance costs? n/t

[oldnslo]

11. Liquidate her possessions and get her on welfare.

And in foster care. Sounds horrible but is the only way, unless you want to take her home with you and be her caregiver. You know her situation better than anybody else besides her.
If she's on SS, they will pay partially, welfare picks up the rest and covers all her medicaid needs as well, within program rules, that is.
You are right, it is better to live until the money runs out, then drop dead quickly. Nice and neat and tidy.

[LeFleur1]

13. Make Arrangements While You are In Your Right Mind

Get busy. There are ways around this but it must be done while a person is still competent.
Don't let these decisions wait until it's too late. Call an attorney familiar with laws concerning the elderly.