The 75+ yr old demographic that I’m seeing have Tricare for Life at very little cost out of their military pensions and/or: union pensions, plenty of savings and rentals and other comm’l property which one or more of their children are managing. They don’t need to worry about “being put into a home” by one of their children. [/quote]
Tricare for life is only for military. And, if I’m not mistaken, it also becomes secondary/supplemental to medicare when the person reaches 65. Medicare does NOT pay for nursing homes except in a limited way for max of 100 days if they transfer to the home directly from a hospitalization. Medicaid does pay for nursing home care – IF you spend down all the assets. So there’s no leaving assets to your children AND having the government pay for the nursing home. (And that is how it should be.) There is a 5 year look back – so perhaps the more savvy elderly folks you’re seeing have already transferred title to their grown children – in hopes of having it in place longer than 5 years- to beat the lookback.[/quote]
I understand all this about Tricare for Life, UCGal. I realize it is a Medicare Part B and D supplement (one of the better ones, btw). I don’t think any of these octogenarians + are planning on going into assisted living or a skilled nursing facility. They’ll just use home health care/companions, etc, as long as possible. Some are stubborn and don’t even want to move in with kids who have room for them. They’re planning on dying in their homes. If that’s from a fall that isn’t discovered until 1-3 days later, then so be it.
In any case, 100 days is a long time for an 85+ year old to continue to survive who was moved to a skilled nursing facility directly from a hospital. Their mental health (and will to live) usually takes a turn for the worse when they are told they cannot return to their homes.
