Senior Citizen Health Insurance Options & Advice

If you are about to hit 65 or soon becoming eligible for Medicare, it is time to review your options to supplement Original Medicare. The Covid-19 pandemic pushed demand for health care higher, and the cost of hospitalization rose significantly. As the outbreak continues to ravage, there is a need for adequate coverage, especially for senior citizens who were found to be more vulnerable.

Covid-19 aside, the elderly are susceptible to all kinds of illnesses, and making good plans can save the day. Regardless of whether they suffer existing conditions or not, these individuals’ health must be secured through the most comprehensive health care insurance.

The advancements made in medical technology continue to push the cost of healthcare exponentially, making the affordability of treatment a real challenge. In light of the above, senior citizens need a good health insurance plan to cater to their increasing medical needs with minimal struggle.

The importance of health insurance for senior citizens 

Health insurance cover is critical, not only for senior citizens but also for everyone. Human health is unpredictable, and essentially, it is the level of preparedness that matters. Here are some of the benefits of health insurance for senior citizens:

• It caters to rising medical costs
• It eliminates financial dependency on children
• It does not matter if you have no income after retirement
• Savings decrease year-on-year
• It covers for increased vulnerability to illnesses
• Employer’s health insurance policy ceases after retirement
• There are always some unplanned financial contingencies and unexpected expenses

While health insurance helps protect part of the cost of eldercare, you should understand what you are entitled to as a policyholder. It is also important that you understand your coverage limitations, so you know what benefits you can pursue and what you cannot. For those especially doing long-term planning, understanding different coverages and their limitations prevent misconceptions about who pays for future care.

The different areas of coverage

Eldercare does not describe all the benefits one would look into a health insurance cover. When sourcing for the best health insurance company, take adequate time to review the benefits that are relevant to the elderly by examining the different areas of coverage and consider an advantage health plan.

• Medications — These include all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.
• Nursing Home Care –There is a considerable difference between nursing home care and other residential nursing arrangements such as assisted living. Nursing home care is considered the highest level of care and is used either for short- or long-term rehabilitation purposes.
• Home Care — It is also crucial to differentiate between home health care and non-medical home care. The former can be provided by family members or casual caregivers, while home health care is only reserved for trained medical practitioners.
• Assisted Living — This form of care entails only non-medical care in residences. If there is any medical care provided, it has to be provided by a third party who is independent and insured separately.
• Medical Equipment — Home medical equipment, also known as durable medical equipment (DME), are long-lasting reusable equipment such as ventilators, hospital beds, and wheelchairs.
• Medical Supplies — These are disposable items that can only be used once, like diabetes test kits or adult diapers.

Helpful tips to get the most out of your insurance

Understanding health insurance benefits is a real challenge, but knowing your benefits helps you settle for the insurance to pay. Insurance companies may decline payment when they do not realize the medical relevance for medication, equipment, therapy, or treatment procedure. With that in mind, know your benefits as a policyholder beforehand, and communicate the medical grounds behind it.

Tip #1. Talk to your doctor proactively — Engage your doctor aggressively to ensure they write detailed prescriptions with solid reasons why you need a specific item, brand, therapy, or any particular form of care.

Tip #2. Provide additional documents to support your case — Provide as much information as possible to enhance your chances of maximizing your insurance. Lab test results, official letters describing your specific needs, and medical justification statements are crucial documents that you should always have at hand.

Tip #3. Seek the help of 3rd party patient advocates — With the help of patient advocates, you can easily and conveniently navigate the health care system. These 3rd party organizations focus mainly on health and education, particularly on ensuring obtaining optimum care. You may go for private advocates for a fee or go for free organizations like the American Cancer Society.

Tip #4. Contact a state protection and advocacy agency — There must be a program around you that works to protect citizens when denied their rights by insurance. These units' main aim is to fight denied insurance claims, especially for expensive medical equipment; and, to a smaller degree, care services.

Final thoughts

The process of finding the best health insurance plan for a senior citizen must involve extensive research of the various available plans. Where you have doubts, seek professional assistance from a qualified insurance agent and discuss every detail with them.