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My mom has been in a nursing home since the end of May. Medicare and Medicaid pay for what her social security doesn't. She is in a private room and when she moved in I agreed that we would pay out of pocket the additional cost for her private room. We have not been billed for her private room once yet. My concern with this is, will we receive a huge bill for it sometime in the future? The nursing home billing employee already discussed it with me and she said she would write up a bill, but I never received it. Is there a certain time they have to send the bill for us to have to pay them? Such as can they bill a year or so later for something that is going on now? I feel like I make no sense and I am having a hard time explaining my question. I'm burnt out at the moment!

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Reminder: Medicare sometimes takes a loooooooooong time to catch up to real time.CaringForTwo: Why would you be frantic? Anxiety does no good and even elevates your blood pressure. Calm down.
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The days of estates are definitely gone for the middle class, FF. Increase in the length of life and cost of end-of-life care evaporates them completely. I hope that my mother has enough to carry her through without having to apply for Medicaid. We never know.

That's actually kind of glum for FT family caregivers, y'know. Say that a person quits their job and loses all the salary and retirement benefits. Then there is no estate, either. Family caregivers really do have to be careful to make sure their own needs are met when caregiving. Otherwise there will be nothing left for them at the end when it comes to resources.
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Oh my gosh I would be frantic at this point too, and I hope someone has a good suggestion for you. Meanwhile, does the NH have a social worker on staff? That person might help you get answers.
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We are in the same situation with our mother. She's still in a private room and we haven't received a bill for that extra amount since she qualified for Medicare in April.
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My mom was put in the nursing home in April three years ago. I was informed of the additional amount to pay in June. From then on I received a bill monthly. I am from North Carolina. Maybe different states do different things. I would surely think that you should have received a bill by now.
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No one should wait this long to be billed. Once they offset with the SS, then medicaid a bill should go out with the next billing. If u get nowhere with the clerk, say u want to talk to a supervisor. There is no reason you should be billed this late. If u get nowhere, talk to the administrator.
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Medicare does not pay for long term nursing care. Even if Medicaid takes a while it shouldn't be a year or more.
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Possibly they have missed sending you the bill..
Or it got lost in the mail. You have the choice to call them or wait for the bill to arrive.
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Thanks for everyone's responses. I'm just wondering if they can send a bill in like two years from now and I'd still be required to pay it. We are moving, my mom included, next spring. I'd love it taken care of before then but if we don't receive a bill, how late can they charge us for the room?
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freqflyer: You're correct on the 20 day Medicare protocol.
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