When a patient is planning to use Medicare or Medicaid for payment of their treatment  he needs to make sure the doctor accepts these forms of coverage. To locate doctors that accept this coverage he can contact Medicare and Medicaid Services and get a list. Then he can go and talk with a few of the doctors on the list to find one he likes. It is important to like the doctor in order to foster a good doctor and patient relationship.

If this elderly person needs to receive home health care, he should make certain that the service he picks takes Medicare and Medicaid. If the patient has to pay for this expense from his funds it can be costly.

Exactly what is Medicare? It is a federal health care insurance program. The individual states administer it. People that are sixty-five years old or older are eligible. Certain people with disabilities that are younger are eligible also. People that have end-Stage Renal Disease also qualify for Medicare.

There are two parts to Medicare: Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A is hospital insurance. It aids in paying for medical services in a hospital, hospice or nursing facility with skilled nurses. Part B is medical coverage. It aids in paying for services and supplies that are covered, if they are necessary. Some of the medical services covered are outpatient hospital care, doctor's fees, part of home health care, and physical therapists.

Medicare does not pay for nursing home custodial care, but it pays for skilled nursing care in a nursing home facility. The patient must be in the hospital for three days before the skilled nursing care in a nursing home is paid for by Medicare. It covers the patients meals, a semi-private room, the care of skilled nurses, and rehabilitation services.

What is Medicaid? It is a funding source for low income people and families to get medical and health care. The states administer it and the eligibility requirements are different in each state. Medicaid sends the payments to your health care provider. Some states require the Medicaid recipient to make a limited co-payment. The federal statute lists more than twenty-five categories that are eligible. The five main coverage area are pregnant women, children and teenagers, the aged, blind, and disabled.

What does Medicaid cover? It covers room and board, nursing services, prescription drugs, non-prescription medicine, some medical equipment, certain therapy, medical supplies, and transportation to medical services.

Single and married pregnant women can be eligible and children born to women that are covered are covered too. Parents of children eighteen years old and younger who are low income families can apply. If your child needs nursing home care you can apply. The blind, aged, and disabled with limited resources and income can apply. Also, anyone that has Medicare and has low income and few resources can apply. To get all of the details go to the Medicare and Medicaid Services site.

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