My father is in a VA Home. He has VA Healthcare, his care was provided by VA . UNTIL he went into a VA nursing home. Do I ignore bills? The VA Home takes all his income except about $80 a month. This goes towards his phone bill, personal items, snacks, and a meal out a few times a month.
Since he has been at the VA home his bills are piling up. He does not have his income anymore and the State VA Home uses PT, OT, footcare, etc.. that is not VA paid! So dad has medicare for these but he gets bills for the extra 20% not paid.... what do I do with these? so far I wrote and told them he cannot pay.
He owes about $ 8000 now after a hospital stay. they sent him to a hospital that was not a Va hospital. it is all very strange. Before he went to the VA Home he didn't have these bills... now he does.
PT is located right in the VA Home and he owes them a lot but all the do is let him row a machine with his arms for 10 minutes and maybe put a hot cloth on his back for 10 minutes and charge medicare $85 a "session"
Just from what little I have seen medicare is being ripped off big time on a lot.
Good luck.
Do you know where your father's income has gone? Sometimes it is signed over to the hosp to cover expenses. But doesn't he need personal things?
Do it today because Medicaid benefits are also retroactive to the first of the month if the application is submitted before the end of the month.
If there is an issue qualifying financially you still have some time to seek a remedy for July.
If dad ends up being discharged to home or assisted living be sure to see if he is eligible for the "Aid and Attendance Improved Pension" which will provide a cash payment to help pay for same.
So he has no money to pay any bills except his phone and his personal items.
I have printed off the papers to apply for medicaid. He has no assets. He rented before he moved to the VA home. he has nothing so I am not worried about the bill collectors taking his assets. I just do not want them calling him at the VA home. he doesn't even know he has these bills. He cannot see well enough to open his own mail.
I don't want him to worry about it. I do tell him what the bills are and that medicare paid their part so he knows what the VA covers and what they do not.
Congressmen and Senators work for us and they absolutely should assist the families. By its actions, the current administration does not value the VA facilities and the patients therein. Find a good representative and be the squeaky wheel. The federal government is absolutely responsible for the care of the veterans and they are failing miserably. (ps. I would tell VA medical care providers/creditors that I am waiting for the bailout!!)
I empathize with the veterans' families - I have dealt with Medical and SS but primarily my advocacy is against the thoughtless hospitalists, hospital administrators and risk management.