Ran across this in the latest AARP Bulletin:

A new caregiver resource, "Ask Medicare," includes information on navigating through Medicare, health care services, and has links to partner organizations that assist caregivers. I have no need anymore to check out these services, but here's the link:

www.medicare.gov/caregivers

If anyone visits the site, please report back for the others.

Thanks.

Karenleen,
Thanks for posting this site. I recommend everyone to read this when they have a chance. Of course I just skimmed over it just now, but is seems like it is very informative, and everything you may need to know about help available is on there.

One thing in particular that may help many is for medications. When the site comes up, there are four boxes. The one box: Overwhelmed? Get help - Get financial help - is one I have experience already with Mom. She has gotten her medicines for years with the extra help. Most times she pays $2-$4 for her prescriptions. I think for a single person with no spouse, you have to make less then $21,000/year. Not sure about that amount, but it will tell you. Sometimes it’s more, depending if there is no substitute for certain medications. But I’ve never paid more that $15 for those.

Once a year you fill out a form, I do it online, and you answer questions about income, bank accounts, rent etc. Now some time ago, Mom had cd's under her name, and I changed them to be under mine and my siblings names. So if you can take any money out of your loved ones accounts and put them under your name, I suggest you do that. They basically know my mom has a checking account and a small money market that I told them is actually her burial insurance as she has no life insurance. They actually ask that on the form if you have life insurance. I dropped moms years ago, as for the amount that is was, and what she was paying monthly, it wasn’t worth keeping. So I took out the cash value, and got more at the time on interest then what she was paying monthly to keep it.

So thanks again for that site. I think for many of us it will come in handy.

Jackie