My 84 year old father is going to rehab but there is a possibility that he might not regain his mobility and will have to be moved to the SNF wing after rehab.
My father currently has Medicare and Amerigroup via Medicaid. Someone told me that I should switch my father to traditional Medicaid since Amerigroup is an HMO and will not cover my father's SNF care for a long time.
It is open enrollment now so I can switch my father over to traditional Medicaid but I don't know the differences. Does anyone have experience or advice?
Thanks!
Amerigroup is a Medicare Advantage plan, I believe.
Medicare is Health Insurance that covers everyone over 65 who paid into the system when they worked.
Medicaid is a program for folks with very little money. If your dad is going to stay as a long term care patient, he will need Nursing Medicaid, which is different from Community Medicaid.
Make sure you understand the differences.
I looked up Amerigroup in Wikipedia. It has both Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans.
Yes, talk to the caseworker asap. The business office at the NH may also be able to help you understand this better.
Many many people, myself included until I started hanging out here, did not understand the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. Until you need to know, it's no big deal. And then it is!
The point is, don't let ANYONE make you feel bad that you are still learning about this stuff!
My nephew is physically disabled and on Social Security Disability. He receives Medicare and Medicaid. Every enrollment period he gets letters from Medicaid Blue Cross asking him to sign up for "better" coverage. He has no deductables, no copays and his medicare premium is paid by Medicaid. He receives special help. I called his caseworker and was told not to change his coverage. She was having problems with this and having to change coverage back.
If you have a problem with Medicaid, your Local Office of Aging may be able to help.