Aging Parents and Grandparents Issues
WHAT IF… on your last visit you took your 80 year old grandmother to get her hearing and vision checked and the reports were not good. There are neighbors that look in on her and run errands for her, but losing her ability to drive is going to be a major blow. She is really resistant to discussing it and you hate to push, but you are very concerned about her safety. She is really not going to benefit at this point from a “safe driving program”. What can you do to get her off the road?
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Talking Tools for Difficult Family Conversations
WHAT IF… suddenly you, your parent, or other family member became unable to communicate due to an accident or illness? Are you aware of information that would be needed? Do you know who has the legal authority to act on your parents’ behalf? What could you do today to ensure that you are adequately prepared in this situation?
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Resources to Help with Financial Strategies for Aging
WHAT IF… your 90 year old mother has been in a nursing home paying out of pocket for the past five years and she’s running out of funds? Although initially she did not have cognitive problems, her mental capacity has deteriorated over the past year and it appears she may have dementia or Alzheimer’s. She has basically outlived her savings and her house now needs to be sold to pay for her continued care. You are on her checking account and have been paying the nursing home over the years but do you have the legal authority to handle the sale of her house? What if you don’t? What are your options ?
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Introduction to Medicare Eligibility and Enrollment Assistance
WHAT IF… you have been covered on your wife’s group plan for the past five years and now she is retiring next month at age 67. She only has Part A of Medicare. You are turning 65 about two months after she retires. You know that you both need make some decisions about Medicare but you haven’t a clue what questions to ask or who to talk to. Do you and your wife need to sign up for Part B? What about prescription drugs (Part D)? Where in the Medicare Guide can you find information about those options? So many questions—so much confusion. . .
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Medicare Part D Analysis
WHAT IF… your dad signed up for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Medicare Part D) two years ago when he stopped working and no longer had group coverage? The plan was only $24 per month last year, but it went up to $46 at the beginning of this year and he still has a large deductible and co-payments. Also, in January when he went to refill one of his medications, the pharmacy told him it was no longer on the approved drug list for his plan (formulary) and he would have to pay the entire cost. He’s thinking about dropping his plan, but he heard something about Medicare charging a penalty if he didn’t have Part D. How can you help him see if there’s a better plan. What are the rules about switching plans? Would he pay a penalty if he went without drug coverage altogether?
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Losing Retiree Group Coverage?
WHAT IF… you’ve always been covered by your retiree group coverage but this year the board voted to increase the amount that retirees pay toward their health care and it’s going to be substantially more. What Medicare decisions do you need to make? What are your options and protections?
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Long Term Care Claims Assistance
WHAT IF… you fell and broke your hip and your right arm. Your doctor says it will be about six to nine weeks before you are out of a cast and able to start participating in physical therapy to regain the full use of your arm and hand. You have a long-term care policy that may pay for a professional caregiver to come and help you at home, but the you don’t know how to get the claim started . What will it take for your policy to pay? How much will it pay and for how long? Is there a waiting period (elimination) before you can receive benefits? How do you start a claim for benefits? How long does it take? You need someone who can call the company with you and ask the important questions.
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Medicare Related Hospital Issues and Questions
WHAT IF… your uncle fell, banged himself up pretty badly and broke his hip? He lives alone and you live a couple of hours away and have a very demanding schedule, but you are his only family. He is in the hospital right now, but when you talked to him last night he said they are probably going to let him go home tomorrow or the next day. He is nervous about going in home and you are worried as well but you can’t possibly take any extended time off right now. Today is only his third day in the hospital and he can’t really do anything for himself. What happens if he goes home and then finds out he can’t manage by himself? Does he have any other options? Could he go to a rehab facility instead? What would qualify him to receive his physical therapy in a facility rather than as an outpatient? How long could he stay in rehab?
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