Paying for Care

Donna Sobel / Services / Paying for Care
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Preparing to Pay for Care

You may think you will never be faced with needing nursing home care, but for more than one-third of all seniors it is a reality. Paying for care in a nursing home, however, is not as easy as you may think. There are several options, and Donna Sobel can help you make the best decision for yourself and your family.

Self-Pay

Nursing home care in Manatee County costs between $7,000 and $9,000 PER MONTH and increases each year. With the average length of stay being 835 days (approximately 28 months), your hard-earned savings could be depleted in less than a year.

Long-Term Care Insurance

While this is an excellent coverage option, the fact is that most people do not purchase this insurance while they are young enough to obtain coverage and may be ineligible.

Medicare

This federally funded program that pays for medical care provides a valuable service to many older citizens. However, one thing Medicare does not cover is long term nursing home costs. Even if you meet the program’s qualification requirements, it is a short-term option that only covers about 3% of long-term care costs and often falls far short of the 100-day maximum coverage.

Medicaid

This government program is truly beneficial to many middle-class people. It is not just for those struggling to make ends meet. However, the requirements for eligibility for Medicaid are stringent and proper planning is essential in order to ensure acceptance into the program.

Veterans Administration

This is an often-misunderstood area, but the VA Pension with Aid & Attendance program usually pays much of the cost for stays in assisted living facilities but is never enough to pay for care in a skilled nursing facility.

When you or a family member require this next level of care; when you just cannot handle the taxing role of caregiver any longer; when there is no caregiver to lean on; when mom or dad has been hospitalized and cannot return home, how will you pay for it?

Proper planning is the key.

Documenting your wishes early will offer you the most opportunities. Individual needs can be better considered. Provisions can be put in place. Medicaid eligibility factors can be identified. These are the benefits of protecting your savings now – while you are still healthy.