When your loved one has to be hospitalized, it can be a confusing time.  You do not want to think about hospital charges or the cost of care that may follow a hospital stay.  However, it is important to ensure that when your loved one is hospitalized, it is as an “inpatient admission” and not on “observation status.”  Spending the night in the hospital does not actually mean inpatient admitted status for your loved one.
Observation status is typically the period between the time your loved one arrives at the hospital and before the hospital changes his or her status to “inpatient admission” or discharges your loved one.  If the hospital discharges your loved one to a skilled nursing facility, you will want to ensure that hospital costs and up to 100 days of nursing facility costs are all covered by Medicare.
Ask the hospital staff to clarify your loved one’s admission status.  Do not sign any document making your loved one or you financially responsible to the hospital.  If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We will be glad to help you during this stressful time, and always!