AGING ALONE? PREPLAN!
Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it you’ve got to start young.” That is especially true if you plan to age alone, without the benefit of children or close family. I am most likely going to age alone and I am preplanning for that. You should too.
Today’s 80 is the new 70 and 70 the new 60. Most of us don’t plan on giving up work, volunteering or travel until we’re well into our 70s or 80s. I have friends who were volunteers at the Key Biscayne Tennis Tournament for over 20 years — the only reason they didn’t volunteer this year was because he became sick and couldn’t.
As we grow older those of us aging alone have to make plans while we’re fully functional. We have to discern what resources are available to us in whichever community we choose as our ‘last home’. With today’s service industry and technology there is a huge advantage . . . there are healthy meal services (both for profit and non-profit), ride share and in many neighborhoods free ride services. We also have medical care right here on the Island.
But, as I state over and over again, it’s about preplanning. You need to have a trusted friends or advisors who can be named as your Power of Attorney for Finance and Health. You need to decide now how to disperse your jewelry, money and tangible goods and write it down. You should also plan to stay out of probate court.
You also need to give your passwords for your bank, phone, computer and any other technological device you have, to trusted friends. Sometimes the best thing to do is find a disinterested third party, such as elder care lawyer, and give it all to him or her. Yes, you have to pay them but it’s a simple business transaction devoid of emotion. You should also think of who is going to manage your health care from an insurance point of view so you’re not selling your tangible goods to pay for unwanted or unneeded health care. You will need an advocate and that takes preplanning.
To review: If you live alone now or believe that you will age alone without the benefit of family, now is the time to decide where to live, who to trust, who to choose as your beneficiaries and who to have as your Power of Attorney. I strongly advise you consult with an elder care attorney for all the correct documentation and to have an advocate for you when you can no longer advocate for yourself.
Medicare Supplement Insurance . . . It Can Be Tricky
George, an 85 year old, was surprised when he received a $4000 bill for his pacemaker replacement procedure, after he was told that it would cost him $250. He’d called his Medicare Advantage plan before the procedure and was told that he would be responsible for a $250 inpatient hospital co-pay. Unfortunately, the hospital and the doctor’s office did not tell him that his procedure would be done as an outpatient with an overnight stay. He stayed overnight but since he was never an inpatient, the bill was applied to his $6500 deductible for outpatient services.
It’s a constant refrain! You’re a senior, on medicare, you do everything you’re told but somehow you still owe $4000. Again – these insurance companies DO NOT WATCH OUT FOR SENIORS and make the simplest of “medical procedures” complicated on the non-medical side. A simple medical procedure mixed with insurance is like a game with no rules. It doesn’t matter what plan you choose, there is still many a “slip between cup and lip”. No other industry in the U.S. is allowed to operate this way. It’s illegal!
This is especially true if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans are less expensive than regular Medicare with a supplement for a reason. They may add extra benefits, but they are often more complicated to understand. So what do you need to do to avoid surprises or issues? Plan ahead, ask a lot of questions and advocate for yourself, your partner, your family members or call Parent Your parents. We can do it for you.
Parent Your Parents is pleased and proud to announce the advent of Ann McGuire, R.N. to our growing group of experts. Besides being a RN she is also a certified case manager and knows the pitfalls of senior insurance issues. Please go to our website, ParentYourParents.com to see her photo and biography. She and I will be collaborating on more articles to assist you with getting through the insurance maze . . . little things like what to do if you’re sent to the emergency room.
Bottom line: remember – insurance when going to a clinic or hospital for any procedure can be very tricky. It’s not because the doctor wants to charge you more, it’s because of the intricacies of how Medicare Advantage plans work.