Medicare & Home Health Benefits
Medicare Open Enrollment is fast approaching. If you have Medicare coverage, now is the time to review your Medicare plan. Compare your current plan with the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare gap plans. Let’s talk about Medicare’s home healthcare benefits. In order to qualify, you must be under the care of a physician, be homebound, and need reasonable and necessary skilled services. Note: ‘homebound’ is defined as needing the help of another person or a device (i.e., cane, wheelchair, rollator, etc.) to leave home.
What services are covered? If Intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or occupational therapy is needed, then additional services may be available: a home health aide up to 35 hours per week to provide personal care, as well as medical social services and some medical supplies.
It is important to know what Medicare home health coverage should be under the law, especially for those with longterm, chronic, or debilitating conditions. Your physician and other healthcare providers are your most important allies.
For help with Medicare and Medicare assistance programs, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a federal program that offers confidential, FREE one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. For more information, contact SHIP by calling 410-222-4077 for Anne Arundel County residents, or go to the Department of Aging website at https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/state-health-insurance-program.aspx.
Stavely & Sallitto Elder Law Attorneys have the experience and knowledge needed for the critical life care decisions we all face. Elena Sallitto, Esquire, is one of seven CELA certified elder law attorneys in the State of Maryland. If you have any questions about long-term care issues, asset protection, special needs planning, estates, trusts, or questions relating to nursing home/assisted living situations, please call us for a free consultation today.