Mom had another emergency an had to go to a rehab NH. I was sent a bunch of admission papers to sign in a hurry. I did not see anything about payment obligations. They said medicare will cover for a while and they will keep me informed. I am not a POA so would there be legal payment obligations in the future? I am almost broke and work full time plus.
But the bigger issue is that it’s really REALLY important that mom stays on rehab for as long as possible. So if you have to find your old “yell leader” Pom poms and do whatever to encourage mom to participate in rehab and be progressing in her rehab care plan, do it!. This enables her to be better + stronger AND also gives you time to figure out what her finances are like and if she needs to transition to being a long term custodial care resident in a NH, gives you time to do what needed for this. Every day she is in rehab, health insurance is paying for it to some degree with a copay after the first 20/21 days and gives you yet another day to find stuff and start to come up with a plan.
How rehab bills is 100% depending on what her health insurance is. Original pays 100% first 20/21 days then at 50% up to 100 days. Hopefully she has a gap / supplemental policy and they pick up the 50%. But if not I think it’s like $280 a day up to 100 days. The Advantage Plan tend to be quite restrictive as to going beyond the 20/21. Who the Plan is with matters. Tend to not easily go beyond the 20, but well YMMV.
LSS right now you don’t have to worry too too much on being personally responsible as it’s health insurance benefit’s & payment territory.
HOWEVER, if she stops “progressing ” that is when the hard decisions have to be made as to what living situation is best for her and what her finances are like to afford it. Keep those communication lines open with the therapists in rehab as they can give you an idea as to how she is doing. Her rehab info is being entered almost daily to her insurers, so her status is being monitored and reviewed. Trying to do an appeal kinda pointless. What this means is that when she is discharged, rehab will be over & done. So a decision has to be made quite soon afterwards.
if it’s determined that she is going to stay at this NH and go from a rehab patient to a custodial care resident, the NH should have a separate Residential contract for mom or you as POA to sign off on.
I will assume that Mom is in Rehab. Medicare pays the first 20 days 100%. So if Mom is released on or before 20 days, Medicare will cover. If she is in there over the 20, Medicare only pays 50%. That means Mom is responsible for the other 50% unless she has a real good Medicare Advantage or supplimental. Medicare pays 50% up to 100 days. After that, Mom will be responsible for the complete cost. If she does not have money to cover this cost, you need to talk to finance about Medicaid.
When I have signed financial paperwork the amount Mom was expected to pay after 20 days was shown. As POA I signed as her representative with POA behind my name.
Did you sign anything that makes you responsible financially or that otherwise worries you?
If so I would attend the office of the facility and I would tell them that you were forced to sign paperwork without opportunity to read and now understand you should not have signed paperwork involving your mom. Try to remedy this that way and if you cannot I would attempt to call an elder law attorney for advice. Some will work with you on phone for less fee.
You might also ask what regulating agency regulates the Rehab. Many are regulated by JCAHO (Joint Commision on Accreditation of Hospitals). If so, call THEM and explain and ask how to withdraw said signatures. They may be able to assist. I hope so.
Have you read the paperwork now?