Medigap News

Getting older can be a tough thing to face for some people. While many of us welcome the changes and challenges that come as we grow older, some of us don’t want to face the choices that need to be made once the ticker hits 65. Often, caring family members and friends must take the lead for aging loved ones who are not willing to face the choices that need to be made as we age.

Making choices about health care and health insurance should always start with a healthy dose of education. Often this means that the caretaker must spend to time to get familiar with what’s available so they can discuss intelligently with their loved one who is turning 65. This can be done online, by researching though Google, or you can contact a licensed Medigap agent who can identify what works well in different situations. This information-gathering phase is critical to ensuring that the best health care decision is made based on the loved one’s unique situation.

Before any care decisions are made, it’s imperative that the caretaker fully understand the financial situation of the loved one. This is so important because there are so many differences in out of pocket expenses and levels of care between Medicare with medigap supplemental insurance and private free-for-service Medicare replacement Medicare Advantage. Making the wrong decision could be devastating.

It’s also important to start the dialogue of legal protection and directives with your loved one. Do you know what your loved one would want in the event of a dire health emergency? Do you know if your loved one would want to be left on life support in the event that recovery would be impossible? Has your loved one given Power of Attorney to someone who can be trusted? If you are thinking ahead for yourself, all of these questions must be addressed *before* you get to the point that you need the answers.

These issues don’t make the most pleasant dinner conversation, but by helping a loved one get their affairs in order in regard to health care coverage and issues laid out in their living will, you are doing a great service to them at a time in their lives when they should be enjoy comfort and relaxation after a life of hard work.

*This is not legal advice. Please seek counsel from a qualified attorney before making any decisions.

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