#2, Her medical plan (Medicare) probably covers nursing home care for a set number of days (30 days, I believe). After that runs out, the nursing home staff will suggest that she goes home. Otherwise the family has to pay out of pocket.
Medicare does NOT cover indefinite nursing home stays. This is why medical bills can bankrupt a family. They family can choose to “spend down their assets” until they are very poor and she is eligible for MediCal. Then MediCal will cover nursing home care… but in bare-bones kind of facility.
This is why long term care insurance might be a good idea. (That being said, our family doesn’t have this yet).
