Differences in Medicare and ALTCS

Question: Why do I need to even consider Arizona Long Term Care System when I have Medicare? After paying into the Medicare system for my entire career, shouldn’t Medicare cover my medical expenses? I don’t understand why I need to apply for ALTCS when I am already insured.

Answer: The simple answer to this question is that Medicare only covers acute care and ALTCS covers the costs of long-term care.

Medicare is important and necessary, but it is oftentimes not enough, particularly given that the costs of long-term care can very easily exceed $6,000 per month. And because Medicare will not cover this cost, it can be exceedingly important to pursue ALTCS if you require long-term care.

In the interest of providing further clarity on this question, Medicare will cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing care, but only if that care is acute, or rehabilitative, in nature.

In some instances, people have long-term care insurance to cover long-term care, but the vast majority of folks do not have this type of coverage.

Here, unless the individual qualifies for ALTCS, he or she will have to pay out-of- pocket for care — Medicare will not cover skilled nursing care once the acute coverage lapses.

Most people in this situation have never contemplated ALTCS, but it is never too late to prepare for the application process. In fact, most of the time people do not prepare for the application process until they are confronted with a crisis, but many times, it is possible to qualify for the program with only minimal delay.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

Are You Newly Eligible for Medicare Or Just Need A Refresher?

CareMore Experts Discuss What You Need To Know For This Year’s Open Enrollment Period October 15th through December 7th

TUCSON, Az. – Each year at this time it’s on the minds of most seniors and caretakers of older adults in the Pima area.  It’s Medicare, and starting October 15 and continuing through December 7^th, the annual open enrollment period for seniors to select their benefits beginning in 2016 is in effect.

            Having a hard time understanding the budget debate about Medicare?  Scare tactics aside, there are more Medicare options today than ever before and it’s important to make the right decision about your or your loved one’s medical care benefits. So how do you know where to start?

            “I tell consumers to bring in their current Medicare benefit plan so we can discuss what options they may have for the coming benefit year,” said Chanchal Yadav, MD of CareMore Health Plan, a highly regarded Medicare Advantage program that serves seniors and other Medicare eligible consumers in the Pima area.  “There is an overabundance of information available to the public about Medicare options so you should sift through what’s important for you to know related to changes to your plan for the coming year, whether with your current provider or another trusted resource.”

Visit us online @ www.caremore.com