My mom has been in a nursing home since the end of May. Medicare and Medicaid pay for what her social security doesn't. She is in a private room and when she moved in I agreed that we would pay out of pocket the additional cost for her private room. We have not been billed for her private room once yet. My concern with this is, will we receive a huge bill for it sometime in the future? The nursing home billing employee already discussed it with me and she said she would write up a bill, but I never received it. Is there a certain time they have to send the bill for us to have to pay them? Such as can they bill a year or so later for something that is going on now? I feel like I make no sense and I am having a hard time explaining my question. I'm burnt out at the moment!
Or it got lost in the mail. You have the choice to call them or wait for the bill to arrive.
My Mom is in a nursing home, she started the middle of September and I received a bill last week. My Mom was in under Medicare for the 20 days, then she became self-pay right after that.
Maybe it is different when one has Medicaid. I wonder if Medicaid pays for everything, where my Mom has to pay for general costs not included in the daily room rate such as laundry, air mattress, oxygen, wheelchair, Boost, depends, etc.
In a way I wonder how fair this is. My parents saved big time and were frugal their whole lives, they did without, and now Dad is writing checks left and right for long-term-care for Mom. If they had shopped until they dropped and didn't save for rainy days, then Medicaid would pay for everything. It's like being rewarded for not saving. Don't get me wrong, I am glad Medicaid is there for those who really need it.
Makes me wonder why I am saving for my old age? Is it going to get me much better care? No, as those residents on Medicaid are getting the same care as my Mom on self-pay. In a fancier place? Maybe for a short time until the money runs out, and at $132,000 a year [$11k per month] it will disappear quickly.
That's actually kind of glum for FT family caregivers, y'know. Say that a person quits their job and loses all the salary and retirement benefits. Then there is no estate, either. Family caregivers really do have to be careful to make sure their own needs are met when caregiving. Otherwise there will be nothing left for them at the end when it comes to resources.