Resources and organizations that can assist seniors and their caregivers with interpreting and utilizing their health insurance benefits — including the federal Medicare program, which subsidizes health care for all Americans aged 65 and older.
The Extra Help program contributes to the costs of prescription drug plans under Medicare.
Fill out this form to see if you are eligible.
This questionnaire is for all ages but allows you to chose the type of benefits (such as Social Security/retirement) that you are looking for. If you are older and looking for food/nutrition or disability aid (for example), the site will provide age-appropriate answers.
Fill out the extensive questionnaire and the site will provide a list a benefits for which you might benefit.
This calculator from The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants will help you decide whether it is financially possible and prudent to buy long-term care insurance.
Read Consumer Reports on long-term care coverage. (2012)
Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Trained counselors offer free advice to help seniors and disabled adults navigate their Medicare and MaineCare benefits.
Use these questionnaires from the Department of Health and Human Service, to evaluate Medicare plans.
The questionnaires, one general and one personalized, help the user determine which drug plan is best for him or her.
Use this site to find Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap, providers in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and general state of health. The site will return a variety of plans with an outline of the benefits and the monthly and annual costs of the plans.
National advocacy group offers “7 Common Questions (and Answers!) about Medicare.”
An office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to identify and reduce fraud and abuse in Medicare and MaineCare programs.
Depending on when you retire, the benefits your spouse may be eligible for will change. Use this calculator from the Social Security Administration to see how retiring early or later might affect your spouse’s benefits.
The Mayo Clinic provides this article on understanding and planning for long-term care needs.
Q: I need go into a nursing home, but don’t qualify for MaineCare. I’d hate to drain my life savings just to qualify. I’m thinking of giving away to my three children a few thousand dollars each and the family camp on Sebago Lake. Is there any problem with that?
Elder law attorney, Levey, Wagley & Putman
A: It is important to consult with an elder law attorney before taking these steps. There are pro’s and con’s to making these gifts, and whether it is a good idea depends on many factors in your situation. First, there are tax consequences that you should understand. Second, it is possible that your strategy could backfire on you and result in your not being eligible for MaineCare for years. If you give away a total of over $2,000 in any one year and then need to apply for MaineCare long term care benefits within five years, the state may deny coverage for a period of months or years. That amount of time is determined by dividing the amount you gave away, in money or property value, by $7,667 – the average cost per month for a nursing home. The state does this to discourage people from giving away money and property.
Email us at [email protected] with your questions. We’ll find an expert who can offer advice and post their response here.
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