Planning for the future is paramount to being prepared for retirement. Many people underestimate the costs associated with healthcare, and assume that Medicare will cover most of the expenses; however, this is one of the most common misconceptions among older adults and their adult children. Medicare does not pay for long-term care needs, specifically for someone that needs assistance with activities of daily living.
For those who meet certain financial standards, the government program Medicaid will help pay for long-term care costs. However, individuals must have less than $1,500 to $2,000 in assets in order to qualify, with many states requiring individuals to fall below a certain income threshold. As a result, people looking for help from Medicaid often must impoverish themselves by paying out of pocket before Medicaid starts assisting with costs.
In order to age in comfort and with peace of mind — financially, legally and emotionally — it’s important to begin planning for your long-term care needs now. While you can’t predict exactly the care you may need in the future, it will be beneficial to you to understand the resources and know where you and your family can turn if and when the time comes. There is always the option of privately paying for services, but if that is financially out of reach, you may want to look into purchasing long-term care insurance to help ease your expenses down the road. For those who will rely on Medicare or AHCCS, Arizona’s form of Medicaid, be aware that you may still need to pay from your own pocket for some expenses.
If you find yourself, or someone you know, in the position of needing in-home caregiving, and have the financial resources to afford to hire a caregiver, you should hire a home care agency. Be sure to take the time to research various home care agencies that you may be considering, and ask the prospective provider of care questions.
Cypress HomeCare Solutions is here to help, so please give us a call at 602-264-8009 and we can assist in finding you the best solution for your needs.
