Medicare pays only for skilled care and the majority of nursing home care is not skilled. The average number of days that patients collect Medicare for nursing home care is only about 25 days. Medicare pays nothing for eight hour shifts at home and only pays home health care visits when some skilled care is being done.
What is meant by SKILLED CARE? Skilled care has nothing to do with how sick you are. A person can be totally paralyzed or in a coma and still not be receiving skilled care, in which case Medicare will not pay. SKILLED CARE IS CARE TO GET YOU BETTER. IV's, dressing bedsores, providing physical or speech therapy after a stroke, etc. Once progress stops, however the care is termed "Chronic or Maintenance" and is no longer skilled. A colostomy drain, a catheter, or even oxygen if needed regularly for a emphysema patient, are examples of care that is not skilled. An Alzheimer's patient is a classic example of someone who needs little or no skilled care and would not benefit from Medicare. Medicare supplements won't pay a dime unless Medicare pays first, so they won't pay either.
MEDICAID, THE FEDERAL AND STATE WELFARE PROGRAM for the indigent, pays almost 60% of the annual bill. Facilities can not continue to give the best care when they could have 100% of the cost by using private pay (your estate or insurance company).
It is easy to get Medicaid if you are broke. You need to beware that anyone who advises you to transfer your assets to your children or trusts in order to qualify for Medicaid could be charged with a criminal offense and make you ineligible for Medicaid. Many nursing homes are not accepting Medicaid patients because a Medicaid patient represents a financial loss to most nursing homes. A Medicaid patient is at the mercy of the system and may have nowhere to go if nursing homes are full. Medicaid means being in a nursing home. No option for home health care.
In 1996 and 1997 health care reform was to encourage Americans to plan for their own long-term care needs and to ensure that long-term care insurance has value for the future, the federal government passed legislation to provide tax incentives Today Idaho allows 100% of the premium deducted from you income.