I feel for victims of Medicare policies, but Medicaid has it's own nasty surprises.

Medicaid can force people, who have recently lost their elderly loved-one, to sell of the family home to pay back Medicaid for the care provided to the elderly person who could not pay for their Medicaid care.

Basically, if you are likely to inherit a home from an elderly person who may end up on Medicaid, then do your homework ASAP to avoid a really nasty shock when the elderly loved-one dies. Discuss this with your loved-one and figure out what can be done to protect the family home from a forced sale to satisfy a massive Medicaid bill.

I wish someone had warned my family in time to do something, now it's too late for us.

If you have supplemental insurance to medicare would you still be billed or does that cover those extra charges? Nothing like paying through the nose for insurance and then not getting covered!

Observation vs Inpatient status has been a huge Medicare issue for years, and most people do not know about it until AFTER they are admitted. Ask UP FRONT what your status is before being admitted, they DO NOT explain it when admitted. Your supplemental policy only 'supplements' what is approved by Medicare, If Medicare does not approve a stay in a re-hab (or any other service) supplemenal (aka Medigap) plan will not cover it. When you have a supplemental policy, it does just that, supplements Medicare. Web Link

This happened to my 95 year old dad several years ago at El Camino, he had a painful compression fracture from a fall, they admitted him, he was in lot of pain. At NO POINT did El Camino explain that he was under observation until day 3 when the casemanager informs us that because he was not an inpatient we could take him home or pay for a rehab out of pocket. A third option was the in-patient PT facility which WAS covered by Medicare, owned by El Camino Hospital of course...gee what a coincidence. El Camino was reimbursed for the 4 day hospital stay and the 10 day in-patient PT stay. However a 10 day stay in a rehab which likely would have been a LOT cheaper for Medicare.

Highly recommend that if you or a family member are eligible for VA healthcare, go to PA VA, we switched to VA for remaining year of my dad's life, he get better care and we did not have to deal with the Medcare BS.

Thank you for the info! I thought I was fully covered as I'm paying so much in supplemental to cover all my costs! What a nightmare for all who have gone through this. Obviously, the answer is don't get ill cause the payments will make you sick.

Regarding Medicaid (aka Medi-Cal, aka welfare) - While a home may be “exempt” for Medi-Cal eligibility purposes, it may not be exempt from estate recovery. If the home is in your name when you die, the state may be entitled to make a claim against your estate to recoup the amount of certain Medi-Cal benefits paid.

Estate planning is essential, find a good elder care attorney Web Link

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