Medicaid Explained
Alternatives to Medicaid are available in some states. Click here for more information. Medicaid is a federally aided, state-operated program that provides medical care for certain low-income individuals and families who have limited resources. Qualifying for Medicaid is not tied to Social Security benefits; however, if an individual is receiving social security benefits, a part of those funds will go toward your medical expenses. Other than the Social Security benefits deduction, the program provides 100 percent coverage of most...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
Managed Care (HMO) Explained
Managed care policies fall under Medicare Part C. These policies were originally designed to provide all of the medical services and supplies offered by Medicare, plus additional benefits such as prescription drug, vision and hearing coverage, as well as enhanced coverage within a skilled nursing facility. Most policies require individuals to sign over their Medicare benefits and pay a monthly premium in return for full coverage by the HMO's doctors, hospitals and services. There is a yearly out-of-pocket limit with...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Home Health Quality Measures Explained
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is part of the federal government's Department of Health and Human Services. Because many Medicare and Medicaid recipients are elderly, much of the funding goes to nursing homes or eldercare services. Home health agencies that receive certifications from Medicare undergo an assessment every three years. CMS assesses these home health agencies via quality measures and publishes each agency's results. CMS & Home Health CMS provides scoring for all Medicare-certified home health...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) Explained
One variation on Managed Care plans that acts as a Medicaid alternative is the nationwide PACE program. The San Francisco-based On Lok program that provides housing, long-term care and programming for the area's senior population led to the development of the larger PACE program. The program aims to keep seniors who normally would require placement in a skilled nursing facility a chance to stay in the wider community by providing a breadth of interdisciplinary services. By utilizing adult day health...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
Medigap Supplemental Insurance Explained
Medigap, also known as Medicare Supplemental Insurance, is a health insurance policy sold by private insurance companies that fills the gaps that Medicare fails to cover, such as coinsurance, co-payments and deductibles. There are ten distinct Medigap policies, Medigap Plans A-J. There are also two other Medigap policies, K and L, which only pay a portion. All policies are regulated by the federal and state governments. Residents of Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have specialized plans. Plans K and L...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
