The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
for release September 3, 1999
Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?
Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.
Help For Those Who Can't Pay For Medical Insurance
Question: My parents (73 and 78) have very limited income and the amount deducted for Medicare from their social security checks each month could be used for food. Is there some way that they can get the medical insurance coverage, but not pay?
Answer: Yes, provided they meet certain low income and asset requirements.
Medicare Part A pays for hospital care and is not paid for separately. It's an integral part of social security.
The cost of Part B (medical-doctors-insurance) is dedicated from the amount your parents receive.
There are three programs that will pay for Part B, with certain conditions having to be met. (1) Medicaid; (2) the "Qualified Medicare Beneficiary" (QMB) program; (3) "Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program. QMB and SLMB are federal and run by Health Care Financing Administration. Medicaid is state operated.
Contact your state local medical assistance agency, social service office or welfare office for all three programs.
Question: My parents (68 and 70) are planning a trip to the Caribbean, for the holidays. We have been told that Medicare will not pay for medical or hospital expenses if they get sick. Why not? After all, they pay for it from their social security.
Answer: Traditional Medicare (as opposed to HMOs) will pay for doctors and hospital bills anywhere in the U.S.A. Most HMOs won't even pay that . If someone goes on a trip outside the HMO coverage area, they end up paying the bills.
While Medicare won't pay for out-of-country medical bills, there is travel medical insurance available for a nominal fee. There is also insurance that will reimburse a person for deposit and other payments made if he/she gets sick and can't make the trip. Travel agents have application forms and are generally very helpful.
Question: I am 72, live alone and need an operation on my leg. The hospital says I have to leave after 48 hours. But I won't be able to walk freely and have no one to help me. The doctor is advising a nursing home . I don't want to go into a nursing home and don't have money to pay for one. What are my options?
Answer: When your doctor suggests a nursing home, he really is suggesting a rehab nursing home where you can get both the medical help you need to recover and physical therapy so you can return to and remain independent in your own home.
Medicare will pay all the nursing home costs for up to 20 days. Then Medicare will pay part of the bill through the 100th day.
Once home, Medicare may also pay for a visiting nurse (up to 100 visits) to check your progress, bandages, etc.
So, take advantage of what Medicare will pay.
Medicare, however, will not pay for custodial nursing or home care services.
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Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper or e-mail her at SandwchGen@aol.com.
Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.
NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 480 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.
©1999 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.