Patients have a bill of rights for all Medicare coverage that includes having all their questions answered, understanding treatment choices, filing grievances about quality of care, and obtaining a review of payment.
“One of the best options for your clients is to have a patient advocate go with the client to the hospital,” says Roge. “A scared and worried patient is not going to think to ask the right questions.”
Roge advises all of her elderly clients to keep a packet of information including emergency contacts, doctors’ names, medical power of attorney, prescriptions, Medicare information and other pertinent information that can be taken with them to the hospital.
Information on patients’ rights and advice can be found on the Center for Medicare Advocacy website. Advisors should put this information on their websites and send it to clients in emails, newsletters or blogs, Roge says.
“Being aware of the options is the most important thing for clients,” she says. “They don’t want to find out this information after the fact. Informing them is a practical way an advisor can help and clients are always grateful.”