Geriatric Care Manager

My previous two blogs have explored Medicare eligibility and the 4 types of Medicare policies.  Caregivers and seniors also need to know about Medigap, which can supplement your aging loved one’s regular Medicare coverage.  In addition, caregivers should also know about Medicaid in case their aging loved one qualifies.

Medigap
Medigap policies are health insurance policies sold by private insurances to supplement costs that may not be covered under the Original Medicare Plan - this may include coverage for co pays and deductibles, some policies may cover emergency health care outside the United States. You pay a monthly premium to the private health insurance company that sells you the policy. Medicare and the Medigap policy both pay their shares of covered health care costs.

Medicaid
Medicaid covers health care expenses for people with limited income or resources- this definition varies from state to state.  Medicaid will cover long term care and home care services for services that are not covered by Medicare.
A list of state Medicaid requirements is available at http://www.cms.gov/medicaid/statemap.asp and may be accessed by finding your state on a map of the United States.

Insurance is complicated and seniors have many options.  Look for my next post, as it will cover other insurance options.  Caregivers are often tasked with evaluating insurance options for their loved ones, and it’s important to know all of the options.  If you desire more assistance, a geriatric care manager can help you identify local resources for Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid information.