[StBernard] Important information for seniors/healthcare

[Westley Annis]

Fair enough John.

Some folks have been so hoodwinked with the medicare advantage programs, not
realizing they are turning their complete medical care over to whichever
company they are with.  

A friend of mine had a situation where her mother was in hospital and then
they wanted her to go to skilled nursing/rehab for a number of days.  She
was with a medicare advantage program and they said nope, not covered.  So
the family had to get together and come up with a thousand or so as a
partial payment and then the advantage insurance said they'd cover another
10 days or so.  Had she been under regular medicare, skilled nursing/rehab
is covered if you are discharged from the hospital and the doctor certifies
you need it.  Under regular medicare the first 20 days in skilled/rehab are
covered 100%, then you have a co-pay for additional days after that.  My mom
has traditional medicare and a supplement medi-gap plan and had to go to
skilled and the deductible was covered by her supplemental medi-gap policy.

JY