My aunt is currently recovering in the hospital after a hip replacement. She had been planning for this surgery for months but didn’t plan on the incredible pain and inability to move or do anything on her own.
The other night I got a call from my mom, who’s with my aunt, asking if Medicare will pay for someone to help her once she leaves the hospital. Even the smallest task is a lot for her, so there is no way she can go home by herself.
Many of our clients have knee or hip replacements and have a wide range of experiences.
So if you get surgery like this in the future, this post is for you. I want you to understand what Medicare will or won’t cover, and by knowing the rules earlier, you can be better prepared and get better coverage.
To get nursing care after the surgery, you must:
- Be classified as an inpatient. I know this sounds silly, but some procedures are billed as outpatient, so confirm with your doctor how it’s classified before your stay.
- You must stay in the hospital for three nights to meet the “qualifying hospital stay” rule. If they discharge you at only two nights, you won’t qualify for nursing care.
Once you meet Medicare rules, you qualify for a limited number of skilled nursing care that you can get a facility certified by Medicare. The doctors and social workers at the hospital can help you find a facility that will be covered by Medicare.
Please also note that Medicare will not pay for a nurse to come to your home to take care of you.
As you can tell, Medicare is confusing.
The good news for you is that it doesn’t have to be. This is exactly why the Medicare Coach exists.
At the Medicare Coach, we help people easily navigate Medicare rules and insurance company games to help do what’s best for them. This is why people turn to us.
If you want help if you want the Medicare Coach to help you with your Medicare decision too, then I invite you to join our Medicare Enrollment Concierge service.
We can help you through all of the steps help you easily make your right Medicare decision to protect your healthcare as well as your savings.
