To many Americans, young and old, health care has become an increasingly scary idea. Not only are prices soaring, but the average person has a surprisingly small amount of info on what exactly the various forms of healthcare even are. It can seem overwhelming at times, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are looking for senior health care in Aptos CA, your main options are as follows:
#1. Medicare
Medicare is the federal government’s health insurance program for seniors over the age of 65, who have worked full-time for a minimum of ten years. Medicare is paid through a combination of mandatory payroll tax assessed to workers and employers, monthly premiums paid by enrollees, and government funding. Medicare comes in four parts, the first one being free for most people qualifying for it, while the others may require an extra monthly fee.
#2. Medicaid
Whereas Medicare is run by the federal government, Medicaid is managed by individual states, with the federal government only providing partial funding. It’s typically seen as the last resort for low income families who can’t afford Medicare. A senior must have first spent most of their assets before qualifying for Medicaid, as it is typically just for people who cannot afford Medicare. Once the senior in question has hit the proverbial financial “floor”, Medicaid will then pay off most of the long-term health care costs. This ranges from hospice care, to at-home care, and nursing home care. Seniors who qualify for Medicaid are referred to as duel eligible, because they may be eligible for Medicare again in the future.
#3. Private health insurance
Finally, there are private insurance policies. These can either be purchased by individuals or provided by an employer. These employer-sponsored policies typically end when the senior in question retires, unless they’re part of the job’s union or pension plan. The main issue with private plans is that they can be exponentially more expensive than Medicare or Medicaid, as they are measured based on the medical history and current health of the recipient. However, if you’re part of a union, most of those costs should be handled for you. However, if you are, for example, looking for quality at-home care, such as with Pacific Angels Home Care, whether your private insurance will cover it varies with the policy. For this, ask your employer for clarification.
The purpose of this article is not to tell you which one to choose, it was merely an instructional guide for those still unsure about the insurance options they have available to them. If this proved helpful, then the best insurance for you likely depends on your medical and financial situation.
