Q. My wife and I are struggling with the financial cost of paying our Medicare premiums, deductibles and copayments. I hear there may be some government assistance available for seniors in our shoes. Do you know anything about these programs? A. Yes. You refer to the Medicare Savings Programs (“MSP’s”) available for low-income seniors to… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Health Care
Will Mom Lose Medicare or Medi-Cal Coverage If She Leaves the Nursing Home To Visit Family?
Q. Mom has been receiving care in a nursing home. She is currently covered by Medicare, but soon will switch to Medi-Cal. She would really like to come to our home for a short visit for family celebrations. However, I heard that she might lose her coverage if she does so. Is that true? A…. Read More »
How to Reduce Medicare Surcharges When Your Income Changes
Q. My wife and I are being charged extra for Medicare Part B and prescription drug coverage premiums, apparently based upon our higher income in years past. Beginning last year, our income dropped significantly. Is there way to get the surcharges removed? A. Yes, if you can link the reduction in income to a “life… Read More »
New End of Life Law Became Effective in California; Recently Challenged; Reinstated Pending Further Legal Proceedings
[Alert to Readers: Make sure to read the “ALERT” at the bottom of this post for recent developments]. ******************************* Q. I hear a new Right-to-Die law goes into effect very soon. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. Starting June 9, 2016, California becomes the fourth state in the union to allow a terminally… Read More »
Medicare To Pay for End-Of-Life Counseling
Q. I hear that Medicare will now pay for me to discuss my end-of-life wishes with my doctor. Is this true? A. Yes, beginning January 1 of 2016, Medicare will begin reimbursing physicians for time spent in counseling patients regarding their end-of-life wishes. This development, just announced October 31, 2015, by the Center for Medicare… Read More »
Does California Recognize the ‘Right to Die’ ? New Law Says “Yes”!
News Flash: On October 5, 2015, Governor Brown signed the End of Life Option Act. It authorizes “an adult who meets certain qualifications, and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, as defined, to make a request for a drug prescribed …. for the purpose of… Read More »
Financial Help for Care at Home: the IHSS Program
Q. Our 90 year-old mother is frail but wishes to remain at home. She has limited financial resources, so my sister is living with her and providing care without pay. Are there any government programs that might help us hire a caregiver and give my sister some relief? A. Yes. There are a number of… Read More »
Family Caregiver Agreements: A Creative Solution To The Elder Care Dilemma
Q. My husband has become quite frail and needs care on a daily basis. To enable us to continue to live in our home together, our daughter has been assisting with his care on a daily basis and has switched to part-time at her own job in order to help. Our other children live out… Read More »
Medicare Available For Chronic Conditions, But Word Slow To Get Out
Q. Following my husband’s return home from a hospital stay, Medicare paid for a home health agency to give him therapy at home. However, we were just told that Medicare would stop paying for these visits because his condition was not improving. Does that sound right? A. No, it does not. Some background may be… Read More »
Adults Under Age 65 Now Eligible for Medi-Cal Without Asset or Disability Test
Q. My wife and I are both age 60, in good health and have very modest incomes. We are not yet eligible for MediCare. In the past, we were told that we were not eligible for Medi-Cal because we have some savings and because we are not disabled. Has any of this changed under the… Read More »