YOUR FAMILY MEMBER AND MEDICARE
Is your mother, father, husband, wife, or other close relative or friend currently on Medicare? Are they planning to go on Medicare within the next 12 months? Since you may be (or may soon be) a ‘care-giver’ for a relative or friend, there is certain information that may be helpful to you.
Helping Them Enroll in Medicare
Medicare is part of Social Security. To enroll in Medicare, you can:
* Call Social Security at 800-772-1213. (TTY users call 800-325-0778).
* Contact Social Security on the Internet. Note however that you cannot apply for Medicare online. You can click the link below.
o Social Security website
Helping Them Choose the Right Plan
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) is the plan everyone gets enrolled in unless you request a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C).
Since Medicare is insurance (and not assistance), you should consider the same things you would with any health insurance plan, such as premiums; deductibles and co-pays; coverage; choice of hospitals and doctors, and; any restrictions and limitations.
Further, medical coverage (Part B) and prescription drug coverage (Part D) are optional.
You do not have to choose them if you don’t want to.
Choosing a Part D plan can be confusing.
To help you choose the right drug plan, Click here for information about Medicare plans in your area."
Long Term Care
Medicare not only covers expenses for hospitals, doctors, prescription drugs, and other related products and services. It also has provisions for long term care such as a nursing home, or ''end of life’ care such as hospice. You can get access to the free booklets by selecting the English or Spanish title below.
* Own Your Future: Planning Guide for Long Term Care
* Aduéñese de su futuroor: Una guía para planear el cuidado a largo plazo
* If you are sight-disabled, you can also access the free audio files at the link below.
o Own Your Future: Planning Guide for Long Term Care audio files
The US National Institutes of Health has a National Institute on Aging. They publish a series of articles on various topics including long-term care. You can get access to a free copy by clicking here
* All Age Page articles
You can also use Medicare’s Long Term Care Planning Tool. It will help you understand what long-term care services are available, how much you can expect to pay for long-term care, and what financing options are available. Note that results are general in nature and are not intended to replace comprehensive planning. The tool will ask between 12-20 questions and will then provide you with results by comparing your answers to those with similar profiles. You can access this at the link below.
* Medicare’s Long Term Care Planning Tool
Home Health Care
The Medicare website has a tool that provides information on how well Medicare-certified home health care agencies in your area care for their patients. Called Home Health Compare, it provides contact and other important information on all Medicare-certified home health agencies in the country. You can also get ''quality of care'' information on these agencies, as well as learn about patient rights, including the right to choose an agency. You can access this free tool by clicking the English or Spanish titles below.
* Home Health Compare
* Compare el Cuidado de Salud en el Hogar
Hospice and End of Life Care
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is a national consumer organization dedicated to improving care at the end of life. It is supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. You can access them at the link below.
* National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization website
Caregiver Support
The US Department of Health & Human Services runs an agency called the Administration on Aging. It provides information on a range of services and opportunities for older Americans and their caregivers.
Their web site includes a Caregivers Resource Room and other resources for elders and their families.
This agency also runs the Eldercare Locator, which connects seniors and their families with state and local resources.
They also run the National Clearing House for Long Term Care Information. It provides information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care needs.
The US National Institutes of Health also has a National Institute on Aging that offers a free booklet called Caregiving Resources. It gives contact information for government, associations, and health groups, as well as legal and financial information.
For access to any of these free resources, you can click the links below.
* Guide for Families and Friends of People With Medicare
* NIH National Institute on Aging-Caregiving Resources
* All National Institute on Aging Care Giver Publications
* Age Page articles
* NIH-NIA website
* HHS Administration on Aging-Caregivers Resource Room
* Eldercare Locator. Also call toll-free on 800-677-1116
* National Clearing House for Long Term Care Information
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