Tell me your experiences with having Medicare or Medicaid. My mom has Medicare and Humana Gold Plus.

Many nursing homes/long -term care facilities, will not accept you unless you have original/traditional Medicare. You have to switch from the AARP United Healthcare or the Humana managed plan or the Aetna managed plan....to plain and simple Part A and Part B Medicare, and choose your Part D drug plan.

And, if you do all that, and qualify for Medicaid, then you do not need any supplemental plan.

If your mom qualifies for Medicaid, it WILL pay for everything. There will be no extra "fees".

In that sense, it is better than a supplemental policy. This issue is, does she qualify for it?

Your mother's funds can be used to consult with a qualified ElderCare attorney. It sounds as though that would be a good investment of both time and money.

Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income. Medicaid is administered by each state and has a means (financial) test in order to qualify. Usually you start on Medicare and when your financial resources drop you then will qualify for Medicaid. Medicare doesn't pay for a nursing home but Medicaid will so if you enter a nursing home as a self-pay client (on Medicare) it is best to pick one that will accept Medicaid so you don't have to move when your financial resources drop and you move to Medicaid.

Does the person you are asking for qualify for Medicaid? There is a big difference when it comes to the personal financial profile and no point in going any further unless the LO's situation has reached the point of needing and qualifying for Medicaid. Also a person who is old enough to have Medicare doesn't loose it when qualifying for Medicaid, they are still on basic Medicare.

Short answer is Medicare does not pay for long term care - that is nursing home - it will cover a short rehab stay following a qualifying 3 night hospital admission