XCUS-300 - Navigating the Complex Healthcare System; What You Need To Know To Be Your Own Best Advocate

Course Description

Medicare is the primary health insurance for most older Americans, 55 million to be exact. With 10,000 of us turning age 65 every day, it is a pretty sure bet that we will have an encounter with some aspect of the healthcare system. Yet even though so many of us depend on Medicare, few among us really understand the Medicare alphabet, rules for home health, for rehab stays, prescription drug coverage, selecting the right “Medigap” plan or the newest, the Hospital Observation Status. The class will also focus on a panoply of broad health-related issues such as when/how to use long term care insurance, identifying a patient advocate, how to select a home care agency, surrogate decision making and more. We will also look at assisted living facilities and what payment sources there are to cover the cost, deciding on a Continuing Care Retirement Community to assure “care for life,” or, if deciding to remain in the community, what supports there are, such as joining a Village and the community-based services that are available. This course will help to make sense of all aspects of the complex healthcare system so that class participants can become astute, educated advocates for themselves and their family members in navigating the system and managing their care.