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The Money Maze

Medicaid eligibility — income, assets, and the look-back period

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Qualifying for Medicaid is not a simple yes-or-no question. It is an investigation into your parent's income, assets, and five years of financial history that varies by state and changes yearly. The rules feel intrusive, but

The Money Maze

Medicaid and long-term care — the coverage Medicare won't provide

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 When Medicare coverage ends and your parent still needs daily help, Medicaid is the program that fills the gap. Medicare pays for hospital stays and short-term rehabilitation, but it does not cover the ongoing custodial care most aging

The Money Maze

Medicare and telehealth — virtual visit coverage

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers telehealth visits at the same copay as in-person appointments, including phone-only calls. Your parent does not need a computer, special software, or video capability to use virtual care. Coverage expanded permanently after the pandemic, and most

The Money Maze

Medicaid explained — the safety net when Medicare isn't enough

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicaid is the single most important financial safety net for your parent's long-term care. Not Medicare. Not private insurance. Medicaid. It covers nursing home care, assisted living, home health aides, dental, vision, and hearing in ways

The Money Maze

Coordination of benefits — when Medicare isn't the only insurance

Reviewed by Sarah Chen, CFP When your parent has Medicare plus another insurance plan, one pays first (primary) and one pays second (secondary). Getting this order wrong causes claim denials, delayed payments, and unexpected bills. According to CMS, coordination of benefits errors are among the most common billing problems Medicare

The Money Maze

Medicare and clinical trials — coverage you might not know about

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers most costs of qualifying clinical trials, including routine care, lab work, and imaging. If your parent faces a serious diagnosis and standard treatments have stalled, a clinical trial may be a real option, and Medicare

The Money Maze

Medicare billing errors — how to read and dispute medical bills

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicare billing errors are common, fixable, and worth catching. Charges get duplicated, preventive services get billed incorrectly, and procedure codes get entered wrong. Your parent has 120 days from the date on the Explanation of Benefits to request

The Money Maze

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) — free Medicare counseling

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP): Free Medicare Counseling That Actually Works Your mom just turned 65. She&

The Money Maze

Medicare fraud and protecting your parent's coverage

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicare fraud costs the federal program tens of billions of dollars annually and directly harms individual beneficiaries through exhausted benefits, confused medical records, and unexpected charges. Spotting fraud starts with reviewing Explanations of Benefits, and reporting it is

The Money Maze

Medicare for people under 65 — disability and ESRD coverage

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicare doesn't always wait until 65. People receiving Social Security Disability Insurance become eligible after 24 months of benefits. People diagnosed with end-stage renal disease or ALS qualify immediately. The enrollment mechanics differ from standard Medicare,

The Money Maze

Medicare and medical equipment — what's covered and how to get it

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare Part B covers 80 percent of approved durable medical equipment after the deductible, including wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, and CPAP machines. Your parent pays 20 percent coinsurance, and the equipment must be prescribed by

The Money Maze

Medicare and prescription costs — strategies that actually save money

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Switching to generic medications, applying for Medicare Extra Help, using manufacturer assistance programs, and comparing Part D plans each October can save your parent hundreds to thousands of dollars a year on prescriptions. These strategies are straightforward,