Medicare/Medicaid:
 

The services for home health care under Medicare are very limited.  To qualify, your doctor must prescribe the care and you must be home bound.  Services can include intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, social services, medical supplies and a home health aide visit 2-3 times a week. 
Medicare will also cover most equipment needed in a home, which can include wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and bars and bedside commodes.  There can be a 20% co-pay on this equipment.

Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs, custodial care and private nursing.  If your family member needs more than a short visit (less than an hour three times a week), Medicare expects family to pay these expenses out of pocket.  Long term care polices can cover some of  this expense, but the amount is determined by the deductible and daily benefit.

Hospice benefits can replace Medicare benefits for terminally ill patients.  A physician must certify that your family member has less than six months to live and emphasis is then on pain reduction, but not curative treatment.  Hospice benefits include a $5 co-pay for each prescription for drugs used for pain relief. 

For a complete booklet which explains Medicare benefits in detail, please write to Social Security Information Services,

William Mercer, Inc.,

462 South Fourth Avenue, Suite l500,

Louisville Kentucky 40202-3432. 

Or you can call 502-561-4541 and ask for the booklet entitled "What you need to know about Medicare in simple, practical terms."