Q: How do I pay for care?

Medicare

Under certain limited conditions, Medicare will pay some nursing home costs for Medicare beneficiaries who require skilled nursing or rehabilitation services. To be covered, you must receive the services from a Medicare certified skilled nursing home after a qualifying hospital stay. A qualifying hospital stay is the amount of time spent in a hospital just prior to entering a nursing home. This is at least three days. To learn more about Medicare payment for skilled nursing home costs, contact your Medicare Fiscal Intermediary or the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in your state. The number for the Ohio Health Insurance Program is 800-686-1578.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a state and federal program that will pay most nursing home costs for people with limited income and assets. Eligibility varies by state. Medicaid will pay only for nursing home care provided in a facility certified by the government to provide service to Medicaid recipients. For more information about Medicaid payments, call OSHIP or the Medicaid office. The telephone number is n the blue pages of the phone book.

Personal Resources

About half of all nursing home residents pay nursing home costs out of their own savings. After these savings and other resources are spent, many people who stay in nursing homes fo long periods eventually become eligible for Medicaid.

Managed Care Plans

A managed care plan will not help pay for care unless the nursing home has a contract with the plan. If the home is approved by your plan, learn if the plan also monitors the home for quality of nursing care.

Medical Supplemental Insurance

This is private insurance. It's often called Medigap because it helps pay for gaps in Medicare coverage such as deductibles and co-insurances. Most Medigap plans will help pay for skilled nursing care, but only when that care is covered Medicare. Some people use employer group health plans or long-term care insurance to help cover nursing home costs.

Long-Term Care Insurance

This is a private policy. The benefits and costs of these plans vary widely. For more information on these plans, contact the national Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). It represents state health insurance reulators and has a free publication called "A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance." You also can get a copy of the "Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare" by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.