ok joyfh here comes my two cents worth and its not pretty.
First of Medicare will only pay the 100 day IF and I do mean IF the patient is needing rehabilative services or skilled care at the NH. Most patients do not require this type care much beyond the 20 days and even then when it is an Alzheimer patient some will say that even Physical is not going to cover it because the patient can't be rehabilated. I think this is so unfair. I was talking to my sister about just that same subject yesterday.

I told her most likely if we do end up having to place my husband we won't even qualify for the 20 days because he is on Hospice and of course won't even be taken to the hospital much less have a skilled care need that Medicare would cover.

When the patient does qualify for the NH 20 or 100 day coverage they first have to have been in a Hospital for at least 3 days. They have us anyway you go at it.

If you take your husband straight to a NH from your home without the above qualifications having been met then you will most likely have to pay around $5,000 per month plus medications out of pocket until you can get Medicaid started. When getting Medicaid started the earliest you will get it is 45 days, of course it would be retroactive but still what if it takes longer than the 45 days for them to go through your paper work, you have to pay in the meantime.

Most people just take for granted they will have that 100 day period and this is simply just not so.

Jane

Everyone should shop around for the best price for Long Term Care Insurance, but please check the front page of this website under Daily News Bulletin - there is an article on FREE long term care for Veteran's. No, it's not complete coverage forever by any means, but anything free is helpful. I am going to look into it for Sid.

http://www.producersweb.com/r/A2Z/d/contentFocus/?adcID=352907ce0e979d0c9a717b11f9e87c06

joang

Jane is right, once a patient has been diagnosed with AD, an insurance company will not offer long-term care insurance.

However, what Joan is referring to is not insurance per se. It is a "pension benefit" for veterans, and is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Most veterans who are in need of assistance qualify for this pension. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, nursing home or assisted living facility.

There are several threads on Aid and Attendance (the "insurance" for veterans to which Joan is referring) over on the Alz Assoc web site, with all sorts of helpful tips on how to wade through all the paperwork. It can apparently take a lot of time to get it in place. Several people have suggested that you seek help in preparing the application, e.g., a local chapter of the American Legion or a local VA office. Fortunately, they will back pay to the date they receive the application.

We need to educate our childre on the importance of long term insurance Yes-it is expensive. Without it I would have lost everything I have.

If you already have a diagnosis for Alzheimers, then you will be unable to get a LTC policy. My DH and I got our policy over 9 years ago, before any diagnosis. When we got our policy, they did not give any test, etc., now the insurance companies are starting to give mental tests and also look into other health problems that may become an issue before issuing the policy. My DH has been in a NH for over a year now. We paid out approx. $21,500 during the past 9 years on premiums and then his deductible, but, the first 6 months of his care was more than this. We have a lifetime policy and he has $200 per day and I have $250 per day. His NH cost are running approx. $3,658 per month right now, approx. $121 per day. The NH usually raises their rates once a year. They go up per a day rate. Instead of $121 right now, in Sept. our insurance company will be paying approx $124 per day. Rates vary widely, according to where you live. Some places charge upwards of $5,000 per month, so, as we all know it is very expensive. We no longer pay any premiums on my DH's LTC policy, because when your deductible is met and you activate your policy, then your premiums are waived. The cost of $121 per day includes everything, diapers, diaper cream, laundry, and anything else involved with his care. The only thing I have to pay is the co-pays on his doctors visits at the NH and the co-pays on his medications.

I am very happy we made this decision when we did. I do not want to deal with the government and this way I call all the shots on his care. It has made life a little easier to deal with going through this terrible disease. My daughter is only 32 years old and is already looking into LTC Insurance, which will be much cheaper if she gets this while she is still young and healthy. I told her that I believe the Financial Planners should make this a part of the overall picture when someone comes to them for financial advice. There are residents that have been at the NH for over 5 years now and just keep hanging on. My DH is also doing the same thing, so, we never know how long this could last.

I agree with bluedaze, yes, LTC is expensive, but, without it I would loose almost everything.

When my husband was diagnosed I filed the paperwork necessary for the VA. I HOPE we are never poor enough to qualify, since for us the spend down was a lot. We are supposed to be in their computer and they are supposed to notify us if there is any change - but with all the guys/gals coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan I imagine we are further down the list. Still, it never hurts to file - let's face it, should we need the care our nest egg will be devoured.
I feel as prepared as I was should the possible 100' tsuani have happened when we lived on the ocean - there just seem to be some things for which I am not prepared.

Jane, forgive me. If the topic had to do with anything financial then I should have realized you'd already moved heaven and earth to explain it here. :-)

(I just assumed if Joan thought it was something "new" that it hadn't been discussed here. My bad.)

I was teasing you, sweet lady. I really should have known you'd have it covered.