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Who pays for living center care?
Most people don’t think about how to pay for living center care until the need
arises. When you one of our living centers, talk to an admissions coordinator.
He or she can help you determine your available long-term benefits. Here are
some options:
- Medicare benefits are available to millions of Americans, including those over
age 65 and some people under 65 who are disabled or suffer from permanent kidney
failure.
- Long-Term Care plans usually pay based on a specified Daily Rate, which is usually
detailed in the individual’s policy or handbook under Nursing Home or Skilled
Nursing Facility Benefits. Typically, these plans don’t pay for all of the services
provided by the Living Center. Any costs not covered by the Daily Rate would
be considered Private Pay and are the responsibility of the resident.
- Another type of Long-Term Care coverage is Medicare Advantage Plans or Managed
Care Plans. Most of these plans pay based on Medicare Guidelines, but may have
co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits that will have to be paid by the
resident.
- Medicaid is an option for eligible, low-income patients in need of long-term
nursing care. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state—we can help you
determine if you qualify.
- The process of filing for Medicaid and receiving approval or denial can take
as long as one to two months, depending on the accuracy and timeliness of the
information provided. Each state usually has a website where application forms
and a list of required information can be found. For South Carolina, the website
is www.dhhs.state.sc.us. For North Carolina, the website is www.dhhs.state.nc.us.
Georgia’s website is www.dch.georgia.gov.
- Many insurance companies and employers now offer long-term care insurance.
- Veterans’ benefits are available at some living centers through the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
What does Medicare cover?
For any eligible resident needing skilled nursing care, Medicare Part A coverage
will pay for a semi-private room, nursing services, rehabilitation services, supplies
and durable medical equipment for up to 100vdays for any eligible resident needing
skilled nursing care. Medicare covers 100 percent of skilled care the first twenty
days in a nursing home. From Day 21 through 100, the resident must pay a daily
co-insurance rate.
Residents who are eligible for the services covered under Medicare Part B will
be responsible for an annual deductible plus 20 percent of the total charges for
services, such as occupational physical or speech therapy, plus medical supplies.
How do I know if my loved one qualifies for Medicare Part A benefits?
Your loved one must have a Medicare card that reads “Hospital Insurance” and
must have spent a minimum of three consecutive days (not counting the day of discharge)
in a hospital. The hospital stay must not have occurred more than 30 days prior
to entering the living center.
In addition, a physician must certify that your loved one needs skilled nursing
care on a continuing basis, and that the need for skilled nursing care must relate
to the reason for hospitalization.
Can my loved one bring furniture from home to the room?
We want to make each room feel as much like home as possible, so we encourage
residents to bring furniture and personal items with them when they move into
our living center. We don’t limit any kind of furniture in resident rooms, unless
it invades the space of the resident’s roommate or pose a safety hazard to other
residents, visitors or our employees. Many residents bring their own recliners,
end tables, plant stands and television sets.
Do you offer telephone service for residents?
Most living centers have the family coordinate the resident’s own private line
with the phone company, if they choose to have one, but many residents (particularly
in specialized rehab care) use their cell phones. Most of the living centers
have cordless phones for the residents’ use at no charge.
Is cable television available?
Resident room hookups are available in the living centers that offer cable television
service. Residents using cable pay a monthly fee for this service.
Can I tour your living centers?
We welcome seniors and their families for tours. We can accommodate any schedule,
as we’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Call your local living center to arrange
a tour today.
What’s the best time to visit my loved one?
The living center is the resident’s home, so you can visit anytime (we don’t
have specific visiting hours). You may wish to join your loved one for a specific
activity, to observe a therapy session or share a meal. Remember that your loved
one may have a roommate, so extending the same courtesy you’d like will be appreciated.
Can I bring food from home?
Before you bring any favorite foods, please check with the nursing staff or director
of nutritional services, as many of our residents must follow a specialized diet
for health reasons.
Any time you bring food, please store it in an airtight container. Also, plan
to arrive at meal or snack times, when the food can be eaten, as our living centers
have very strict guidelines for storing perishable food.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 864.269.3725 OR EMAIL US.
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