Massachusetts MA Long Term Care Insurance

Medicare And Medicaid Misconceptions

Most people think that the government will pay for them if they ever need any sort of long term care in the future.  Unfortunately, most people have misguided expectations with regard to Medicare and Medicaid.

Qualifying For Medicare 

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be eligible for Social Security (65 Years Old)
• Receive Medicare Part A
• Purchase Medicare Part B

If someone meets these qualifications, the U.S. government pays the medical costs for acute or intensive care.  People can be eligible by being at poverty level as well. Most people over age 65 are eligible for Medicare. 

Qualifying For Medicaid

• Impoverishment

Medicaid is welfare, granted for the truly poor, to help them, at any age.  In order to qualify as poor, one must sell away most, or sometimes all, of their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid.

Qualification Loopholes

• If one develops a disease that is not a "cure" service-eligible disease, then Medicare will not cover it
  
• Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and about 10 other subtle diseases on the body and mind are not covered
  
• After a stroke, if someone needs a caretaker to help them, they may only qualify for 20 days care by Medicare. Medicare will not pay for longer care.
  
• If one's assets are not liquid or are tied up in home ownership or a business, the individual does not qualify for Medicaid
  
• It is very difficult to qualify for these government programs. Providing help to people with only very serious physical, mental or money problems, others that do not qualify are only going to be covered for 20 days or so, when a long term care stay could last years.

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