Need to move Mom. Any advice?

The medical coverage system in the States gives me a migraine just to think about - I don't envy you that one. Hope you get it sorted out smoothly.

I'm reassured now: if your mother's stayed with you for more than five months at a time, you clearly will be well prepared; that's all I was wondering. It's just there are so many people - not just on the forum, but all over - who start out with wonderful intentions and then find that they've got a complete nightmare on their hands. So I'm glad to know you're not one of them!

I'm sorry you've found a major change in your mother, though. Hope things will steady up once she's settled in with you. Best of luck x

So you have a good idea what you are getting into.

I guess we did try to project stuff onto you. We were just trying to help. The members of this website have CENTURIES of experience. Sometimes people with abusive parents think that if they move Mom into their house, she will love them and everything will be beautiful music. In our experience, that's not how it works out. Your situation sounds much better than that.

I hope the insurance problem sorts itself out. Please let us know how things work out for you. And if you need practical advice, we're here.

I do not quint understand your question? However all I was looking for was a resource to make so e changes to medical coverage. Not how or why this became sauce a soap opera! I was given good information in an earlier comment. :-). However I have had her with me three times now for over 5 mo at a time but this time it is very apparent she can not go back!

Salliejo, have you had your mother staying with you for extended periods before? You sound very confident - which is a good thing! I'm not being sceptical - so I'm just wondering whether it's based on your having plenty of experience in looking after your mother, or perhaps other people with similar needs?

You make it sound as though we kidnaped her LOL for goodness sake ! I am glad you can be so organized and your chees never gets moved or as we like to say our chees was not moved some one took it and ate it now we have to start over. This is a simple situation and I thank you for blowing it out of proportion so I could say WOW and take a step back and remind myself how blessed we are and the fix is with God simple see He has equipped us to the task at hand blessings to you

Sallie, sorry if I offended you. You are now in a serious snafu. That happens when you jump state lines with a patient without planning ahead. Wish you the best of luck. I have plenty of people to care for, thank you.

Thank you all very much for this information and incourgement! pstiegman. Hmmm sounds like you know better than I! However until you know the whole story it is best you not try to project what may be your lack of willingness to take on the burden or try to be the other sibling in this matter! I am simply trying to take of the business end of moms medical coverage and if that as you put it is "MORE THAN I CAN CHEW" well shame on me. I thought I was simply asking for assistance in direction to the proper Chanels to get the coverage, I apologize of I misled you in any way. Again thank you all for the direction I have found it most helpfull and also eye opening as to how crewl some can still be!

I also get the feeling you and your brother are not on the same page. Moving a dementia patient can make the symptoms worse and that's what happened, right? Get back to square one and send her home, admit that you bit off more than you can chew.

Sallie - there are still so many unanswered questions...

The "normal" open enrollment period has ended. But there are special circumstances, such as relocating into a different state, that allow special time periods. Only you know all the details, that's why I posted the link above for you. If you review that information, it may be able to direct you or help you understand more of what you need to find out.

It may be helpful to know the following:

Is your mom 65 or over (seems like she might be)?
Does she receive Social Security benefits?
Is she financially eligible for Medicaid (your state's Medicaid may pay her Medicare premium giving her a little over an extra hundred dollars per month).
OR ... you can sign her up with an HMO that you like which is available in your since it seems state, since it seems that Kaiser is closing up their facilities on the East Coast.

All of the machinations and documentation that is required to do what you need to do could benefit by your brothers assistance. I'm not trying to make trouble here, I just want to make sure you're thinking ahead. Why isn't he actively involved if he is the POA? Why is he standing back and "allowing" you to do all the dirty work, so to speak, yet giving his magnanimous approval? If you are moving her in with you, YOU should be the POA.

Just a caution, Sallie, if you have read much on this website about the caregiver NOT being the POA, it often doesn't work to have the non caregiver wielding power over the caregiver. I smell trouble ahead if you and your brother don't have a history of being in perfect alignment about your mom.

OK, if she has moved her primary residence from one state to another, that creates a special enrollment period to change her Medicare supplement from where ever she has her Kaiser to one available in your state of CT. Does your brother have POA? If so, he will need to sign the application if she is not competent to sign it.

You are all great, short story moms home is in another state she has come to visit in CT dementia is getting very bad I will not be allowing her to return! I need to give her better medical care here in CT but we are limited to ER and urgent care as kaiser in not in CT! Brother has told me make what ever changes I need to make and he will ok them. She will be living in my home.

I am confused. If your mother is with you, then why did you say she is in another state? If your brother has, I am assuming power of attorney, then if he tells you it is okay to move her to your state, then do it. You need to find out what healthcare plan she is on currently, and since the open enrollment has passed (it is now Dec. 9), if she has Medicare those guidelines would prevail. I am still confused as to what you are really wanting, and I suggest you go to www.medicare.gov and check with your local area on aging. You do not list what medical conditions she has and again, I still don't know how to properly advise (not advice) you. Maybe if you could give more details, we could help.

Is her living with you a change of her primary residence? If so, she can change her plan to one available in your area. However, if she is not competent, her POA or guardian will need to sign the application. If her primary residence is elsewhere, that makes things more limited. When you say you need to move her, what do you mean? To another state? to a nursing home? where do you need to move her to?

This is an official Medicare link that gives you information about special enrollment periods when you move, etc. See if this answers any of your questions.

http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/special-circumstances/join-plan-special-circumstances.html

It is kaiser and they have me worried about cost but kaiser is not in CT wish we could be a team but it will be all or nothing with them!

Your mom is likely on Medicare and I'd imagine it's her Medicare supplemental policy (Medigap) that is the problem. We're in the open enrollment period right now - until Dec. 7 - so your brother should give you the information about the policy so that you can call insurance company and find out what you need to know. If this company doesn't cover her in your state, then you can change plans to one in your state.
Good luck,
Carol