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March 11, 2019 at 05:19 PM
Margie Barrie, a veteran long-term care (LTC) planner and educator, has been writing articles about LTC finance issues for decades.
Here she looks at a major, poorly understood Medicare trap.
With the many changes occurring in Medicare, it is important that those of us who specialize in long-term care (LTCI) protection be educated about the impact on our clients and even on us as we all age.
That’s why I thought this information would be helpful about what you must ask at the hospital.
A True Story
My mother faints in the lobby of her apartment building. She is rushed to the hospital by ambulance. She is seen by a doctor, and tests are ordered. Two days later, she is moved from the emergency room area to a hospital room.
(Related: Short-Term Care Insurance Sales Rise 20%)
When I arrive at the hospital, I asked the floor nurse this question:
Is Mom admitted to the hospital or is she here for observation?
The answer: For observation.
Several visits to the corporate office later, I finally got her status changed to admitted status. But doing that was not easy.
Why This Story Is Important
If Medicare is involved, asking about a patient’s status can save you, or your client, thousands of dollars.
