... covered by Medicare.
Long-term care is only covered if you have purchased private long-term care coverage or are covered in your state through a state program like the one enacted in WA not too long ago.
When long-term care is needed, a person pays out of liquid assets. When liquid assets and any income is gone, the person qualifies for coverage through Medicaid. Long-term care is then paid for by SS income and Medicaid.
Prescriptions and durable medical equipment are still covered through Medicare, but the fees to a facility for long-term care are not covered by Medicare.
After death, if there is an asset like a family home (which you cannot be forced to sell while in long-term care), Medicaid "claws back" funds spent on care out of the sale of the property after death.
This is something people don't generally understand. The most expensive part of dying, long-term care, is not covered until you have "spent-down" all liquid assets and qualify for Medicaid.
And, BTW, if you have Medicare, stick to classic Medicare + a supplement.
I think they will not cut basic Medicare benefits with it's fucked up donut hole and all. I fully expect them to "reform" what Medicare Advantage providers can do in a way they will claim is a benefit, while actually cutting coverage substantially.
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