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The Money Maze

Extra Help and Low-Income Subsidy — Medicare assistance programs

Reviewed by Sarah Chen, CFP Medicare's Extra Help program saves qualifying beneficiaries an average of $5,000 per year on prescription drug costs, according to CMS. Roughly 2 million eligible people are not enrolled because they do not know the program exists. If your parent has limited income

The Money Maze

Medicare and hospice — how the benefit works

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare's hospice benefit covers all comfort care when a doctor certifies your parent has six months or fewer to live. Nursing, medications, equipment, counseling, and spiritual care are included with no deductible and no copays.

The Money Maze

Medicare Annual Enrollment — when and why to review the plan every year

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team | Updated March 2026 Medicare plans change every year. Formularies shift, networks shrink, premiums climb, and copays increase. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and it is the one window each year when your parent can switch plans

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Medicare and hospital readmissions — what happens when they bounce back

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 About one in five Medicare patients is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, and studies show 25 to 50 percent of those readmissions are preventable. Being present at discharge, understanding medications, and checking in

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Appealing a Medicare denial — the process that actually works

Reviewed by Sarah Chen, CFP According to CMS data, roughly half of all Medicare appeals at the first level are decided in favor of the beneficiary. That means if your parent's claim was denied, there is a real chance of getting it reversed. The appeal process has five

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Medicare and mental health coverage — what's available for depression and dementia

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers psychiatric visits, therapy sessions, and medications for depression, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms of dementia. There is no annual limit on therapy sessions. Your parent pays 20 percent coinsurance under Part B, and Medigap policies often

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Medicare and preventive services — the free screenings worth knowing about

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers annual wellness visits, cancer screenings, cardiovascular testing, cognitive assessments, depression screening, and vaccines at zero cost to your parent. No deductible, no copay. These services catch conditions early when they're treatable, and they

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Medicare and home health care — what qualifies and what doesn't

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers home health care when your parent needs skilled nursing or therapy after an acute medical event and is homebound. The coverage is temporary, ends when your parent stabilizes, and does not extend to cooking, cleaning,

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Medicare and skilled nursing facility coverage — the 100-day reality

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period after a qualifying three-day inpatient hospital stay. Days 1 through 20 are fully covered after the Part A deductible. Days 21 through 100

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What Medicare doesn't cover — the gaps that surprise everyone

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. I got the call from my sister on a Tuesday. Our mother had fallen in the bathroom and

The Money Maze

Medicare and pre-existing conditions — what's covered from day one

Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders editorial team | Updated March 2026 Medicare does not allow pre-existing condition exclusions, waiting periods, or surcharges based on health status. From the day your parent enrolls, every condition they have is covered. The specifics of that coverage, including which drugs are on

The Money Maze

Late enrollment penalties — the mistake that costs money forever

Reviewed by Sarah Chen, CFP Medicare late enrollment penalties are permanent. Your parent will pay 10 percent more in Part B premiums for every 12-month period they were eligible but did not enroll, and that penalty never goes away. According to CMS, hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries currently pay late