Some Alternate Payment Sources for In-Home Care

This is an overview on how to pay for home elder care. Long-term care insurance, veterans pension benefits, employee assistance programs, reverse mortgages, income tax credits or deductions, private pay, Area Agency on Aging,?AHCCCS/ALTCS (Medicaid), Medicare, TRICARE, and medical insurance are some of the alternatives available. Below are descriptions, telephone numbers, and web sites for these types of funding sources.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance will usually pay for non-medical in-home care. If you have a policy, we can contact your insurance customer service or claims department to ask about their requirements for your in-home care. We would need your insurance policy number and your insurance claims department telephone number. Of course, you may talk to them yourself if you prefer.

Arizona Department of Insurance has information about shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance. 800-325-2548, http://www.id.state.az.us/

Veterans Pension Benefits

Many veterans and their widowed are unaware that they are eligible for Veterans Pension Benefits. You do not need a service-related, war-time disability to receive benefits. You may telephone the Sierra Vista Veterans Benefits Counselor at 520-458-7144 or 888-952-4700 to set up an appointment to apply. You do not need to pay enormous fees for a third party to help you through the application process. Arizona Department of Veterans Services: http://www.azdvs.gov/

Basic information to determine eligibility: Was the veteran on active duty for at least 90 days? Does he/she have an honorable discharge? Did the veteran serve at least one day during one of the following periods: 12/7/1941-7/26/1947, 6/27/1950-1/31/1955, 2/28/1961-5/7/1975 and was physically in Vietnam, 8/5/1964-5/7/1975? This is basic, if you do not quite meet this criteria, you should still contact your local Veterans Benefits Counselor, since you may qualify.

There are other types of home care programs available to veterans, again, talk to your Veterans Benefits Counselor for more information.

Also read my post about Veterans Pension Benefit Counselors.

Employee Assistance Program

More and more employers are providing their employees with in-home care benefits for their family members. If your adult child is helping you in any way, and is working for an employer, he/she might be able to receive this benefit. Your adult child should contact his/her Human Resources Department about this benefit.

Reverse Mortgage

A reverse mortgage can allow you to remain in your home, using your home?s equity to fund your care. If you are age sixty-two or older, a reverse mortgage can turn your home?s equity into cash, a line of credit, monthly income, or a combination of all three. There are no required monthly mortgage payments and the proceeds are tax-free. Talk to your financial advisor to be fully comfortable with this type of mortgage.

HUD/FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage is a government insured program for reverse mortgages. Telephone 800-569-4287.? http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecm--df.cfm

AARP has information about reverse mortgages. Telephone 202-434-6044. http://www.aarp.org/.

SEAGO, Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization provides counseling for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. 520-432-5301, 520-432-5858. http://www.seago.org/

Arizona and Federal Income Tax Credits or Deductions

In general, a licensed health care practitioner must certify that a person needs substantial help with at least two activities of daily living, and/or he needs substantial supervision to protect his health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment. Income tax credits/deductions are also available for certain long-term care insurance premiums. Please discuss these matters with your financial advisor to determine what is most cost effective.

Area Agency on Aging

SEAGO-AAA provides funding and case management for in-home care services and family caregiver support services.? 520-432-5301, 520-432-5858. http://www.seago.org/

AHCCCS/ALTCS

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona?s Medicaid program. Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is a part of AHCCCS, and provides for long-term care. To inquire about how to become eligible, or to apply for AHCCCS in Cochise County, telephone 520-459-7050, or 800-782-5827. http://www.ahcccs.state.az.us/

Credit and Debit Cards, E-Check, PayPal

We can accept credit and debit card payments, e-check payments, and transfers from checking and savings accounts via online transactions available at PayPal. As a merchant we pay fees, as a customer you pay your usual credit card fees or account transfer fees. This is useful for adult children who live out of state, but want to pay for their parents? services.

Medical Insurance, Medicare, TRICARE

We do not have an Arizona Home Health License, and we are not Medicare certified. We cannot provide services through Medical Insurance, Medicare, or TRICARE.

In general, medical insurance and Medicare will only pay for home health care, such as skilled nursing care, bed baths, and medication set-up for people either recovering post-hospital or house-bound. There are some exceptions to this. You would need to contact your medical insurance,?Medicare or TRICARE?claims department about the type of service you may receive.

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