How Do You Get Insurance to Cover Home Care?

July 25th, 2009 -- Posted in Misc Ranting | No Comments »

Many of you are aware of my returning from vacation a couple of weeks ago to be faced with my Mother-in-Law experiencing a stroke the day after.  Spending days in the hospital, meeting with doctors, and trying to navigate the medical system has brought back many memories of my care giving days for my husband 11 years ago.  We have been incredibly fortunate (thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers) that her stroke was mild and after 7 days in the hospital we were able to bring her home, as long as she had 24/7 care for awhile.  Of course that sounds so simple until you’re the one having to juggle all the care and navigate the insurance ins and outs.

My Mother-in-Law is 92, but looks 72.  She is truly one of my idols. She has survived 4 husbands (we always teased them to take their vitamins), and up until the stroke she sang in the church choir, square danced once a week, swam, went to the gym 3 times a week for aerobics and light weight training, and walked everywhere!  She was completely self-sufficient, so this has been tough for her to receive “assistance”.  What has frustrated me is the insurance…..she has paid into supplemental insurance in addition to having Medicare for YEARS, and they will cover an RN and Physical Therapist to come to the house a couple times a week for 4 weeks, but will not cover at home care .  They will cover her to go to a nursing home which is more expensive, but so depressing.  If we sent her there to recoup she would give up…..so it’s not an option. Meanwhile we are lucky to have found a marvelous lady to stay with her when we aren’t available….. and have also given her a medic bracelet …. but all out of pocket.

I’m sure many of you have experienced some of the same and have been disillusioned with our medical system as well.  Here’s a person who has paid into it for years and now, when she needs to use it, the fine print doesn’t cover what she requires.  If you have any suggestions of how we might get home care covered , I am all ears!

Until next time,  J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

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