How do you all handle the paperwork side of caring for a parent?

[AdamS523151]

Mom's 82 and lives a few hours away. She's mostly independent so I didn't see this coming, but the admin side of her life has slowly become a part-time job for me.

This week alone I've spent an hour on hold with her supplemental insurance about a denied claim I still don't fully understand, two Medicare letters I had to read three times before I could explain them to her, a prescription that ran out because nobody at the pharmacy seemed to know whose job the refill was and a specialist referral that's been sitting in my inbox because I haven't had a clear hour to deal with it.

I don't mind doing it. I just feel constantly behind and keep worrying I'm missing something important.

How do other people manage this? I tried a shared calendar with my brother but it just became another thing I have to update. Genuinely curious what's worked for you.

[WendyW626932]

Good morning Adam, I understand the worry and frustration. I have been helping my parents and now just my Mom for @ 10 years. There are a few things I can suggest (start small), see if the Pharmacy has an App or additional user.

For example, my Mom uses Publix Pharmacy and I am able to ask questions as she has given permission for them to talk with me (I am also her Power of Attorney). I get emails of when prescriptions are ready and I can check when it's time for a refill if not automatic. Next time you are visiting your Mom, maybe take a field trip with your Mom to the pharmacy and ask to speak with the pharmacist to make an appointment to go over all of the medications (probably some could be removed from her account).

I have lots of other suggestions, but one of the most VIPS, if she is an active cell phone user - will she share the pin-code to her device? I only ask as so many things have 2-factor authentication.

Good luck and reach out if you have more questions or concerns 🙂 Wendy

[GailL1]

@aidenwalker 

Since I have became what I think is an expert at Medicare coverage and all the ins and outs or I learned it really fast with research either on the CMS or Medicare site or various others then I didn’t have any problems but sometimes it was very time consuming but once I got the hang of all the exceptions to the rules then I got real good at it.   That has taken years and then you have to keep up with all the changes that affect beneficiaries. 

CMS.gov - Medical Bill Guides and Resources 

Some people hire professionals that act as Patient Advocates.

CMS.gov - Find a Patient Advocate    There are companies that do it too - I do not recommend that route for normal beneficiary problems.

There are other help sources also depending on what the need.

Medicare.gov - Get help with your rights & protections 

SHIP says that they can help with billing problems but I do not know if they mean insurance type billings or treatment billings.

Many times the problem can be remedied - by reading the coverage documentation and understanding all the various rolls of the parts of Medicare + any supplemental coverage. Knowing your mom’s coverage is paramount and having the policies and know how they work and when.

• Original Medicare OR a Medicare Advantage plan [Part C] (and have the policy) -
• Her free standing Plan D Prescription Drug Coverage if she has Original Medicare (her drug coverage is usually included if she has a Medicare Advantage plan)
• A Medigap (Medicare Supplemental policy) and what plan it is or some other coverage that acts as such - Medicaid, CHAMPVA, TriCare for Life, Retiree coverage, etc,

I can also definitely help here too but all the details have to be given - like problem details, plan type, Medigap plan - all the details make a difference. 

You have to keep up with the Annual Enrollment periods for (1) Medicare Advantage plans or (2) free standing Medicare Part D plans because they change yearly and so may the beneficiary’s needs - Annual enrollment is October 7 - Dec 15 EVERY YEAR.  Before that begins every year, the whatever insurance company will send an Explanation of Changes to the current policy - so you need to review that to see if the beneficiary needs another plan to fill their needs.  Even then, it is still best to review the options again during the annual enrollment just to make sure that the beneficiary has the best plan for their needs including price.  

So a good basic understanding of Medicare is good to have - 

Medicare.gov - Medicare and You - The Handbook  

I also used Excel to create spread sheets to keep with the care and billings - what they were for, etc.   

Using Medicare.gov to read about coverage is also great for normal stuff.  If it gets outside of the everyday norm, like for special coverage or special billing methods for coverage, then I have to resort to CMS.

It can be done easily after you understand Medicare. the various plans and the coverage.  

[SereneSeagull]

I’m a list person, and when I needed to deal with a lot of this a spiral appointment calendar helped as well. It’s exhausting and I feel for you.  One day at a time is important as well as taking care of yourself. Seriously, because it can wear you down fast.  

[aidenwalker]

To be honest the paperwork is at times harder than the caring.

What worked for me is a single, simple, notebook/folder containing all your contacts, meds, logins and appointments in one place, without it would seem impossible to keep track.