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“I am looking forward to moving to a nursing home facility.” This isn't a phrase you hear often from seniors. That is because most seniors would prefer to age comfortably at home. However, there are many wrong ideas about who pays for personal home care. Will home care be covered by Medicare or Medicaid or insurance? Most likely, CPA Jerry Lewis notes, home care clients typically pay with private funds. Though Medicare does cover home health care on a limited basis, if it’s deemed to be medically necessary, it does not cover homemaker services – and, most health insurance and Medicare supplemental plans don’t cover any kind of in-home care.
According to Rod Perkins, VP of insurance regulation of the American Council of Life Insurers, “Baby boomers have seen their parents have long-term care needs and weren't prepared. And it's not just an old-age product. You could need in-home care as a result of an accident.”
If you and your older friends and family are not prepared to pay out of pocket for personal home care, however, be assured that there are some more paths to explore; for example:
- Veterans’ support (click here to check eligibility requirements)
- PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)
- Long-term care insurance policies that specifically include in-home care services
- Reverse mortgages
- Organizations geared to assist with specific needs, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, the ALS Association, and Easter Seals, may supply respite care vouchers
- Community support, such as through religious organizations, the local Area on Aging, the United Way and area senior centers
The Benefits.gov site is also a great resource to find out which federal benefits you could be eligible for. And, make contact with Independence-4-Seniors Home Care in Chicago for further resources and help with ensuring that no stone is left unturned when considering providing personal home care for your precious senior loved ones in the greater Chicago area. We’re skilled at exploring every possible avenue to assist families find out any benefits for which their elderly loved ones qualify. We will help make professional in-home care services a reality for you!