Over the course of the past five blogs, there has been a lot of information, nuts and bolts, and criteria thrown at you. The main thing we want you to take away from it all is that we are here to serve you! We certainly understand that the process by which you or your loved one is admitted into a skilled nursing facility is multi-faceted and comes with many emotions and stressors.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or come by our facility with any questions you may have. We want to make the admission process go as easily and smoothly as we can for you. You're invited to sit down face to face with our admissions personnel or business office manager. You can schedule a tour of our campus or just drop by when you can. We are here for you!
The remainder of this final blog in the series will highlight additional options for payment or payment assistance for long-term care in a SNF.
*Department of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may provide long-term care or at-home care for some veterans. If your family member or relative is eligible for veterans’ benefits, check with the VA or get in touch with the VA medical center nearest you. There could be a waiting list for VA nursing homes. (Marshall Manor is not a VA affiliated home.)
To learn more about VA healthcare benefits: Call 1-877-222-8387, or visit www.va.gov/health or www.caregiver.va.gov. You can also find more information at Geriatrics and Extended Care: Paying for Long-Term Care.
*Social Security Disability Income
This type of Social Security is for people younger than age 65 who are disabled according to the Social Security Administration's definition. For a person to qualify for Social Security Disability Income, he or she must be able to show:
The person is unable to work
The condition will last at least a year
The condition is expected to result in death
Social Security has "compassionate allowances" to help people with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementia, and certain other serious medical conditions get disability benefits more quickly.
To find out more about Social Security Disability Income: Call 1-800-772-1213 / TTY: 1-800-325-0778 / or visit www.ssa.gov.
*National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging, a private group, has a free service called BenefitsCheckUp®. This service can help you find Federal and State benefit programs that may help your family. After providing some general information about the person who needs care, you can see a list of possible benefit programs to explore. These programs can help pay for prescription drugs, heating bills, housing, meal programs, and legal services. You don’t have to give a name, address, or Social Security number to use this service.
To learn more about BenefitsCheckUp® Call 1-571-527-3900, or visit www.benefitscheckup.org Benefits.gov
For more information about Federal, State, and local government benefits, go to www.benefits.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).
*Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance covers many types of long-term care and benefits, including palliative and hospice care. The exact coverage depends on the type of policy you buy and what services are covered. You can purchase nursing home-only coverage or a comprehensive policy that includes both home care and facility care.
Many companies sell long-term care insurance. It is a good idea to shop around and compare policies. The cost of a policy is based on the type and amount of services, how old you are when you buy the policy, and any optional benefits you choose.
Buying long-term care insurance can be a good choice for younger, relatively healthy people at low risk of needing long-term care. Costs go up for people who are older, have health problems, or want more benefits. Someone who is in poor health or already receiving end-of-life care services may not qualify for long-term care insurance.
*For Your Research
Still, other options for payment or payment assistance for long-term care in a skilled nursing facility include:
Reverse Mortgages
Life Insurance
Annuities
Trusts
*Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/