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10 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | April 2019 | Question: What does my insurance pay for? In less than four decades, the senior population in the U.S. will double. At the last count, the total was 41 million, and it will magnify to over twice that by 2050. Globally, the number of people 65 and older expands from 531 million to 1.5 billion. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Germany will find their majority population to be over the age of 50. The fact is, most people do not know what services are available when caring for seniors, how much it costs, or who will pay for them. For example, did you know that Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care? Most retired people want to live a normal life and the private sector and the government hopes to help with that. But if you have not yet experienced any challenges that come with you or a loved one's aging, there are several things you must know. The biggest issues as we age are how will we pay for the costs of health care? Here are the common ways that seniors pay for care: * Medicare: It is a health insurance program that pays for acute medical care, doctor visits, drugs, and hospital stays. It does not pay for long-term personal care, the kind a senior needs with everyday activities like bathing, toileting, mobility, and dressing. * Medi-cal (Medicaid): It pays for some medical expenses and tight regulations stipulate who qualifies. It is a joint program by the federal and state governments and helps low-income folks pay for health care and medical needs, and long-term custodial care. Before an individual can get help through the government agency, one must meet the very strict income limitations. * Private Health Insurance: It covers most health care expenses but pays limited long-term care costs. * Disability Insurance: It replaces income only. It does not pay for any medical or care expenses. * Long-term care insurance: It pays for care at home and in a facility. If you have a LTC policy, check with the agent to learn what it covers. If you do not, before you buy one, understand what services are covered and when it will pick up the expenses. Make sure it pays for in-home and residential care. The fact is, caring for an older person is expensive and most services are paid out of pocket. Consumers are not financially prepared, because they are ill-informed about the coverage offered by Medicare and Medicaid. Individuals operate under false hopes that both pays for elder care. Remember… you have the right to CHOOSE the hospice you want when the time comes. For any questions or a needs assessment please contact Jennifer Trebler-Partridge at (951) 663-1060. If you have never flushed your water heater now is the time to do it. It could save you from buying a new one at $1,000. Turn the gas control to PILOT. Connect your garden hose to the spigot on the side at the bottom of the water heater, run the hose out to the street. Then using a screwdriver turn the screw on the spigot counter clockwise until the water flows out the hose. If no screw, turn the spigot knob to open the valve (same as you do for outside water faucets). This will flush out the sediments that build up in the bottom of the heater and add years to the life of the heater. Let the water run out for about 10 minutes then turn the screw or knob off and remove the hose, also turn the gas control back to ON. If no water or just a trickle of water comes out of the hose you have sediment build up. Now you need to turn off the valve at the top of the water heater (cold side) and open the hot water faucet in the laundry room. If it is still clogged you may need a new water heater. I suggest you flush the heater every two years. Handyman Tips: It's time to flush your water heater Ask a Question EASY TIPS YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THINGS WORKING IN YOUR HOME