AALTCI's Short Term Care Insurance Trade Group to Focus on Medicare Observation Care
The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance's National Advisory Center for Short Term Care will initiate a consumer awareness initiative focused on Medicare Observation Status.
Los Angeles, CA, December 25, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Millions of seniors think Medicare made a mistake when they learned they had to pay bills for prescription medications and recovery care after being in a hospital.
"We estimate over two million Americans in 2015 found themselves not covered by Medicare after a hospital stay simply because the hospital stay was coded Observation Care," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance's National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information.
More Medicare beneficiaries are entering hospitals as observation patients every year. According to a report by Kaiser Health News, the number rose 88 percent over the past six years, to 1.8 million nationally in 2012. "We know the trend continues to increase each year," Slome shares.
According to Slome, hospitals provide observation care for patients who are not well enough to go home but not sick enough to be admitted. "Observation care requires a doctor’s order and is considered an outpatient service, even though patients may stay as long as several days," he explains. Many stays last 24 to 48 hours, but observation visits exceeding 24 hours more than doubled to 854,454 between 2006 and 2012, including a five-fold increase in stays lasting more than 48 hours, federal records reveal.
The National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information will undertake a consumer initiative focused on creating heightened awareness among Medicare eligible Americans. "There are very low-cost insurance products for seniors that can cover the risk, some costing as little as $20-a month," Slome explains. "These short term care insurance products are a little known form of coverage and education is the key to helping seniors avoid what can be a very costly and stressful experience."
The National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information was established by the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance to promote sound and affordable planning for Americans. For more information on short-term care insurance options or to find professionals in your area call the organization at 818-597-3205 or visit the organization's website at www.shorttermcareinsurance.org.
"We estimate over two million Americans in 2015 found themselves not covered by Medicare after a hospital stay simply because the hospital stay was coded Observation Care," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance's National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information.
More Medicare beneficiaries are entering hospitals as observation patients every year. According to a report by Kaiser Health News, the number rose 88 percent over the past six years, to 1.8 million nationally in 2012. "We know the trend continues to increase each year," Slome shares.
According to Slome, hospitals provide observation care for patients who are not well enough to go home but not sick enough to be admitted. "Observation care requires a doctor’s order and is considered an outpatient service, even though patients may stay as long as several days," he explains. Many stays last 24 to 48 hours, but observation visits exceeding 24 hours more than doubled to 854,454 between 2006 and 2012, including a five-fold increase in stays lasting more than 48 hours, federal records reveal.
The National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information will undertake a consumer initiative focused on creating heightened awareness among Medicare eligible Americans. "There are very low-cost insurance products for seniors that can cover the risk, some costing as little as $20-a month," Slome explains. "These short term care insurance products are a little known form of coverage and education is the key to helping seniors avoid what can be a very costly and stressful experience."
The National Advisory Center for Short Term Care Information was established by the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance to promote sound and affordable planning for Americans. For more information on short-term care insurance options or to find professionals in your area call the organization at 818-597-3205 or visit the organization's website at www.shorttermcareinsurance.org.
Contact
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance
Jesse Slome
818-597-3205
www.aaltci.org
Jesse Slome
818-597-3205
www.aaltci.org
Contact
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