Jarvis Law Office

Will Medicare Pay for Inpatient Rehabilitation?

The thought of paying for inpatient rehabilitation after a major surgery or debilitating illness is a concern for many seniors. Experienced elder law attorneys often advise clients who face rehabilitation that Medicare Part A will help pay for a portion, sometimes all, of the cost of a stay in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. But, are Medicare benefits available for all seniors? Here’s a quick look at what exactly goes into an inpatient rehab stay, who qualifies for Medicare coverage in such rehabs, and how much of the cost is covered by Medicare:

Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers

Inpatient rehabilitation centers, sometimes referred to as acute care rehabilitation centers or short-term skilled rehabilitation centers, provide physical and occupational therapy to patients who have recently undergone serious surgeries like joint replacements or who have suffered from a stroke, heart attack, or other debilitating illnesses. Inpatient rehabilitation centers may also provide a level of full-time skilled nursing care.

Medicare Coverage Eligibility

Medicare will cover your stay in an inpatient rehabilitation center if your doctor certifies that you meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You need intensive physical or occupational rehabilitation for at least three hours a day, at least five days a week
• You must have round-the-clock access to a skilled rehabilitation nurse
• You are visited at least three times a week by a doctor that specializes in rehabilitation
• You need at least one other type of physical or occupational therapy, such as prosthetic or speech therapy

Even if you are not expected to improve to the point where you can return home, Medicare may still cover your inpatient rehabilitation costs. If your doctor determines that you do not need inpatient rehabilitation but still need care at a skilled nursing facility, or that you only need part-time, in-home skilled nursing care, Medicare may also cover those costs.

How Much Medicare Will Cover

Medicare Part A will cover a stay at an inpatient rehabilitation center for up to 100 days: the first 20 days of your stay at the facility, after which you are responsible for co-pays of $167.50 per day during your next 80 days, which may be covered by supplemental insurance. However, Medicare will only continue to cover rehabilitation care and services if you are progressing in your recovery.

During your stay at an inpatient rehabilitation center, Medicare will pay for a semi-private room, meals, nursing and social worker care, prescriptions and medical equipment, and rehabilitation services. 

If you’d like more information about Medicare coverage for inpatient rehabilitation, please contact our office at 877-653-3450 to schedule an initial complimentary consultation.

Three Warning Signs of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia is one of the most devastating conditions that affect senior citizens. The loss of memory and cognitive functions leads to emotional distress and increased care expenses, made even worse by the fact that there is no known cure for dementia diseases, including the two leading diseases that cause dementia, Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. There are treatments that can slow the effects and help make life more manageable, but the diseases must be detected early in order for the treatments to have any kind of effect. Here are three warning signs to look out for in your elderly loved ones who may have dementia or Alzheimer’s:

Memory Loss

Memory loss is the most well-known sign of dementia and is perhaps the most devastating to families. The lack of recognition of family members usually occurs towards the end stages of the disease, while a milder form of memory loss can serve as a key warning sign that there is something wrong. If you notice your loved one often forgets where they placed their keys or phone, or if they have difficulty remembering names or start repeating themselves, you may want to consult with a doctor about the possibility of early-stage dementia.

Confusion

Confusion usually goes along with memory loss since seniors with dementia often become confused or agitated if they cannot remember a family member’s name or other details they used to know. Constant repetition accompanies confusion and memory loss, as seniors suffering from dementia often repeat things they’ve said just minutes after they’ve already said them. Seniors confused with dementia may also put items such as keys or a purse in places where they don’t belong, like the refrigerator or the oven, and then forget they put them there.

Personality and Mood Shifts

Dementia can have a pronounced impact on a senior’s mood, manifesting either in depression or drastic personality shifts. Dementia is a cognitive impairment which affects one’s judgment, meaning it can cause a senior to act very differently than they have in the past. Monitoring mood and personality for shifts and changes is a good exercise if you suspect an elderly loved one to have dementia.

If you’d like more information about the warning stages of dementia, or if your loved one is suffering from dementia and you’d like to discuss financial and care plan options, please contact our office at 877-653-3450 to schedule an initial complimentary consultation.

Medicaid Eligibility for Skilled Long-term Care Nursing Center

Medicaid is a federal, needs-based program administered by state agencies to provide aid to individuals, many of whom are senior citizens, who cannot afford to pay for their own medical care. Most of the time, this care takes place in a skilled nursing home. Many qualifications need to be met in order to determine eligibility to receive aid, including the following:

Income Limit

As noted earlier, Medicaid is a needs-based program and has strict income limits. The 2018 monthly income limit in Ohio is $2,250 for both single and married applicants. However, there are other income factors that can go into Medicaid eligibility, so you will want to consult with an Ohio elder law attorney who has experience with Ohio’s Medicaid qualification rules.

Asset Limit

Just like the income limit, there is a limit on the amount of assets you can have in order to qualify for Medicaid. The 2018 Medicaid asset limit in Ohio is $2,000 for single applicants and $2,250 for married applicants. There are also rules concerning certain countable and non-countable assets you should be aware of including retirement accounts and real property, so it’s advisable to speak with an experienced elder law attorney to make sure you have all the information necessary for your Medicaid application.

Medically Needy

“Medically needy” individuals are those whose income and assets would typically make them ineligible for Medicaid services, but face mounting medical bills that effectively put them within the income and asset limits. People in this situation are allowed to spend down assets in a qualified manner that will make them eligible for Medicaid. These spend downs must be carefully monitored and follow strict guidelines, which an experienced elder law attorney can help you navigate.

Not every nursing home must accept Medicaid as payment for their services, so finding a nursing home that accepts Medicaid payments and meets your standard of care should be a priority. All nursing homes that accept money from Medicaid are subject to regular inspections by the state of Ohio to ensure they are compliant with state standards and offer satisfactory care to their patients.

If you’d like more information about Medicaid eligibility for a skilled nursing home, or if you’d like to review and assess your current situation to determine if Medicaid coverage is a viable plan for your future, please contact our office at 877-653-3450 to schedule an initial complimentary consultation.

Ohio Probate Lawyer Answers, “Is Your Probate Impacted by Where You Live?”

Most people live in the state where they are considered permanent residents; however, there are some exceptions – especially snowbirds who leave the cold Ohio winters for the warmer climates of Florida and other Southern states. While these snowbirds have two residences, they only have one domicile, which is their permanent residence and the place they intend to return to. That domicile is the location where probate proceedings will take place, meaning it’s not necessarily where they spend most of their time.

The issue of where you’re domiciled may present some problems following your death Unless it is made clear which state you are actually domiciled in, there is nothing to stop other states where you claim residence from trying to pr
ove you were in fact domiciled in that state in order to tax your estate. This can be a very confusing, stressful situation for family members who are already dealing with the grief of losing a loved one.

An experienced elder law attorney will ask you to make your wishes known as to which state, either Ohio or the state where you reside during the winter, you want to be domiciled in for probate purposes. The attorney will go over the various pros and cons of claiming your domicile in each state and help you make the best decision based on your wishes and goals. Once the decision is made, the attorney will advise you to perform the following actions in that state in order to provide evidence of where you’re domiciled, such as:

• Getting a driver’s license
• Registering to vote
• Getting a library card or gym membership
• Filing state tax returns
• If possible, file a statement of domicile with the town or county clerk

You may also want to consider performing the following actions in the state where you do not want to be domiciled:

• Do not spend the majority of your time in that state
• Cancel library and gym memberships
• Sell your home
• Cancel all business dealings or move them to your new state
• File non-resident tax returns

If you’d like more information about claiming your domicile for probate purposes, please contact our office at 877-653-3450 to schedule an initial complimentary consultation.