Medicare and Long Term Care

With costs for long term care being relatively expensive, some American citizens need help to make sure they are able to make the regular payments for a nursing home or home care. The Medicare program is one of the few government forms of insurance that address this particular need and provide funds to disabled people and senior citizens. Combined with the Medicaid program, the two systems are meant to make sure that a person receives the care they need to enjoy a basic quality of life. Funding for the Medicare program is given through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, or FICA. However, there are certain eligibility requirements that are necessary for a person to receive the Medicare support and limits to what the program covers.

For a person to qualify to receive Medicare benefits for long term care, they must be at least 65 yeas old or be certified as being disabled. The proof of being disabled is if the person receives Social Security Disability Insurance. In addition, the patient must have been a legal resident in the United States for a period of no less than five years before they can take advantage of the benefits. There are also some conditions that a person can have to qualify for Medicare. If the person takes dialysis treatments for liver disease or has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, they will have all of their premiums paid for by the program.

While Medicare helps to limit the costs of assisted living, the program only supports a certain type of aid. The program differentiates between medical care that is necessary and help that is considered to be custodial care. These custodial care activities, such as helping a person bathe or dress are not considered to be necessary and as such are not included in the benefits provided by Medicare.