Caregiver Tip of the Month

TV commercials about Medicare's new Part D (the new prescription drug benefit that starts January 1, 2006) say that enrollment is voluntary. To most people, that means they don't have to enroll and pay extra premiums if they don't want to. Or, that they can wait until their prescription expenses rise to the point where they can save money by enrolling.

Unfortunately, the "voluntary" aspect is another one of Medicare's "Gotchas!" for most people. Even if your loved one is already on Medicare, they probably must enroll again for the new Part D prescription drug benefit. And, he or she must do so by May 15, 2006 or they will have to wait until the next annual enrollment period (every year from November 15th through December 31st). When they finally do enroll, their premium will be permanently increased 1% per month for every month they waited. In other words, they will be penalized for the rest of their lives! For example, if they delay 10 months, they will pay 10% more than almost everyone else. If they delay 2 years, their premium will be about 25% more than other people pay.

If your loved one is NOT on Medicare, they can apply for the new Part D prescription drug benefit at any time beginning 3 months before the month of their 65th birthday, or delay their decision for up to 3 months after the month of their 65th birthday. For example, if their 65th birthday is August 20th, they can apply for Part D at any time from May 1st to November 30th without any penalty.

What if your loved one has only a limited income and resources? There is extra help for people with limited income and resources. Almost 1 in 3 people with Medicare will qualify for extra help and Medicare will pay for almost all of their prescription drug costs.

If your loved one's prescription drugs are now covered by a state Medicaid program, and they live in a nursing home or other institution, will they need to join a Medicare drug plan? Yes. Medicaid no longer covers prescription drugs covered by Medicare prescription drug coverage as of January 1, 2006. If your loved one didn't join a Medicare drug plan by December 31, 2005, Medicare automatically enrolled them in a Medicare drug plan. Their Medicare drug coverage started January 1, 2006. However, they can choose and join a different plan at any time.

Medicare's Prescription Drug Benefit is provided by several insurance companies, HMOs, and other health-related companies. Everyone with Medicare is eligible, regardless of income and resources, health status, or current prescription expenses. Your loved one can join a plan in the following ways:

By paper application. Contact the company offering the drug plan your loved one chooses and ask for an application. After they fill out the form, mail or fax it back to the company.

On the plan's website. Visit the drug plan company's website. Your loved one may be able to join online.

On Medicare's website. Your loved one will also be able to join a drug plan at www.Medicare.gov by using Medicare's online enrollment center. More information is available through their online tool, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder.

By calling Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and talk to a Medicare customer service representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For more information, including a description of people who do not have to enroll in the new Part D benefit, visit the Medicare.gov website.

Our visitors ask ...

Q. My father-in-law has a 12-year-old dog that he is deeply attached to, but recent events indicate he's less able to be responsible for the dog and I can't bear to see the dog suffer. Are there resources that could help him maintain the dog's care and still be able to maintain his independence? I know pets are a good stress-reliever, but is more information available on this subject?

A. You can find the pet care services you want in the Yellow Pages under Pet Sitters. Many, if not most, provide daily dog walks, pet taxi service to and from vets, as well as plant and home care for vacationers. If more frequent walks are desired, that can usually be arranged because pet sitters charge by visit. We strongly recommend that whomever you select be bonded and insured (and licensed if that is required where your father-in-law lives).

You can also find pet sitters online at the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. They have a search/locator in the upper left section of their home page directly beneath their logo.

Daily Living Solutions

— products for seniors —

As we grow older, it often becomes difficult to use many everyday products because of arthritis and other conditions. If you or a loved one needs a little help – or a lot – we've selected a group of practical and affordable solutions from our affiliated merchants to help overcome those limitations.

Whether you are looking for yourself, or to help an elderly senior continue living in their own home, you'll find a wide variety of supplies and accessories – raised toilet seats, safety rails, incontinence supplies, large-handle eating utensils, pain relief, diabetic supplies, pill splitters and crushers, big-button telephones, canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs – and much more.

Everything is sorted into convenient categories in our Solutions for Seniors section.

Caregiving – Finding the money for care at home

A variety of resources can help pay for care at home. We discuss these resources in some detail in our article 12 tips to help you find money (and free resources) for care at home.

Caregiver Tip #2

Medicare will help pay for a powered wheelchair or scooter if it is medically necessary based on Medicare's requirements. For Medicare to cover a power wheelchair or scooter, your loved one's doctor must state that they need it because of their medical condition. Medicare won't cover a power wheelchair or scooter if they only need it for their convenience, or for leisure or recreational activities.

In most cases, Medicare will cover a power wheelchair if:

• Your loved one can't walk on their own.

• They have severe weakness in their upper body caused by a brain, spinal, or muscle condition.

• Their upper body weakness prevents them from using a manual wheelchair.

• Your loved one spends most of their time in bed or in a chair when they are not in their wheelchair.

• They are able to work the controls of a power wheelchair or scooter.

Medicare will cover a scooter if:

• Your loved one has a condition that makes them unable to move around their house without the use of a wheelchair.

• They are unable to operate a manual wheelchair.

• They can safely get in and out of a scooter.

Your loved one will need a prescription from their doctor for the wheelchair or scooter. Your loved one's Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier can tell them if they qualify for this coverage. Please go to Medicare's Web site; then in the Search Tools section, click on Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites. On the next page, click in the box in front of DMERC -- Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier and press the Continue button. Then, select your loved one's State and click on the View Results button at the bottom. The resulting page will contain the phone number for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier in your loved one's State.

Our visitors ask ...

Q. My mother is 73 years old and becoming forgetful. She has difficulty completing a task, has short term memory loss, is not compliant with her medications, and is not eating right. My brother and I are trying to convince her to move to Houston where we can both take care of her. She talks being all alone in San Antonio, with no one to help her, yet she will not move. Any suggestions?

A. Caring for an elderly parent presents tough challenges. But you are not alone. Many other caregivers have already solved problems like those you now face. To help you find them, take a look at our Support Group message board where family caregivers across the country share their stories and learn from others.

Click on Support Group to go to our message board. You will find a wide variety of messages from other caregivers. You can also send a comment regarding one of their messages, or send (post) your own message for others to read and respond to.

Recommended Reading and Videos

Many excellent books and videos can help guide you through the caregiving process. For our recommendations, including a brief description of each one, click here.

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is intended as a supplement, not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. More