Can I use a life insurance policy to pay for care?
Yes — if your loved one owns a life insurance policy, it may be convertible to funds for care. Three main options exist: a life settlement (selling the…
Read guideCan my loved one have both Medicare and Medicaid?
Yes — a person can have both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. People with both are called "dual eligibles," and it is extremely common among elderly…
Read guideDoes long-term care insurance cover assisted living?
Most long-term care insurance (LTCI) policies issued after 1997 cover assisted living when your loved one meets the policy's benefit triggers — typically the inability to perform two…
Read guideDoes Medicaid pay for assisted living?
Medicaid covers assisted living in most states, but not automatically — coverage is provided through Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers that have limited slots, income and…
Read guideDoes Medicare cover adult day programs?
Original Medicare does not cover adult day programs. Adult day care is considered a custodial service — social and supervisory support, not skilled medical care — so it…
Read guideDoes Medicare cover assisted living?
Medicare does not cover assisted living. This is one of the most common and painful surprises families face when a loved one needs care. Medicare only pays for…
Read guideDoes Medicare cover hospice care at home?
Yes — Medicare covers hospice care at home with virtually no out-of-pocket cost to families. To qualify, a doctor must certify that your loved one has a terminal…
Read guideDoes Medicare cover memory care?
Medicare does not cover memory care facility costs — room, board, or the 24-hour supervision that defines memory care. Medicare may cover specific medical services a person with…
Read guideFinancial assistance programs for seniors: what families often miss
Most families know about Medicare and Medicaid but miss a surprising number of other financial assistance programs for seniors — from utility subsidies to prescription drug help to…
Read guideHow does VA Aid and Attendance work?
VA Aid and Attendance is a monthly pension enhancement for eligible veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities — bathing, dressing, eating, or mobility —…
Read guideHow long will Medicare pay for skilled nursing facility care?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility (SNF) care per benefit period, but days 21–100 require a daily copay of $209.50 in 2025. Days 1–20…
Read guideHow to appeal a Medicare denial for home health care
If Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan denies home health care, you have the right to appeal — and appeals frequently succeed. The Medicare appeals process has five…
Read guideHow to Enroll in Medicare Part D After a New Diagnosis
How to Enroll in Medicare Part D After a New Diagnosis How to Enroll in Medicare Part D After a New Diagnosis A serious diagnosis changes prescription needs…
Read guideHow to Find Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living in Your State
How to Find Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living in Your State How to Find Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living in Your State Medicaid funding for assisted living exists in most states —…
Read guideHow to Pay for Assisted Living When Private Pay Isn’t Enough
How to Pay for Assisted Living When Private Pay Isn't Enough How to Pay for Assisted Living When Private Pay Isn't Enough Assisted living costs an average of…
Read guideHow to spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid
Medicaid spend-down is the process of reducing countable assets to the program's eligibility limit before applying for Medicaid long-term care coverage. This is legal and extremely common —…
Read guideHow to Use a Reverse Mortgage to Pay for Long-Term Care
How to Use a Reverse Mortgage to Pay for Long-Term Care How to Use a Reverse Mortgage to Pay for Long-Term Care For homeowners who need to fund…
Read guideLong-Term Care Insurance: How to Use a Policy You Already Have
Long-Term Care Insurance: How to Use a Policy You Already Have Long-Term Care Insurance: How to Use a Policy You Already Have Long-term care insurance policies are often…
Read guideMedicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: Which Is Right for Your Family?
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: Which Is Right for Your Family? Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: Which Is Right for Your Family? Choosing between Medicare Advantage and Original…
Read guideMedicare vs Medicaid for Caregivers: What’s the Difference and Which Covers What
Medicare vs Medicaid for Caregivers: What's the Difference and Which Covers What Medicare vs Medicaid for Caregivers: What's the Difference and Which Covers What Medicare and Medicaid are…
Read guideMedicare vs Medicaid: what is the difference for caregiving families?
Medicare is federal health insurance that covers medical care for people 65 and older (and some younger people with disabilities) — it does not pay for long-term custodial…
Read guideSSDI for Serious Illness: How to Apply and What Caregivers Need to Know
SSDI for Serious Illness: How to Apply and What Caregivers Need to Know SSDI for Serious Illness: How to Apply and What Caregivers Need to Know Social Security…
Read guideVeterans Benefits for Caregivers: Aid and Attendance and Beyond
Veterans Benefits for Caregivers: Aid and Attendance and Beyond Veterans Benefits for Caregivers: Aid and Attendance and Beyond The VA's Aid and Attendance benefit is one of the…
Read guideWhat does Medicare cover for home health care?
Medicare covers skilled home health care when your loved one is homebound, has a physician's order, and needs skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy. There…
Read guideWhat is a Medicaid waiver and how do I apply?
A Medicaid waiver (formally a Home and Community Based Services or HCBS waiver) is a state program that uses Medicaid funding to pay for care in home and…
Read guideWhat Is a Medicare Savings Program — and Does Your Parent Qualify?
What Is a Medicare Savings Program — and Does Your Parent Qualify? What Is a Medicare Savings Program — and Does Your Parent Qualify? An estimated 7–9 million…
Read guideWhat is a Medicare Supplement plan and does my loved one need one?
A Medicare Supplement plan (also called Medigap) is private insurance that pays some or all of the out-of-pocket costs that original Medicare doesn't cover — including deductibles, copays,…
Read guideWhat is a reverse mortgage and should families use it for care costs?
A reverse mortgage allows homeowners age 62 and older to convert home equity into cash without monthly mortgage payments — the loan is repaid when the home is…
Read guideWhat is Medicare Advantage and is it better for seniors who need care?
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to original Medicare provided by private insurance companies — it bundles Parts A, B, and usually D into one plan, often…
Read guideWhat Medicare Covers for In-Home Care — and What It Doesn’t
What Medicare Covers for In-Home Care — and What It Doesn't What Medicare Covers for In-Home Care — and What It Doesn't The most common and most costly…
Read guideWhat Medicare does not cover that families often don’t know
Medicare's biggest coverage gaps are long-term custodial care, dental, vision, hearing aids, and most home-based personal care. Families regularly discover these gaps at the worst possible time —…
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