3 Ways to Plan for your Healthcare with a Disability

As every one of the millions of Americans living with a disability knows, it can often be difficult to really make your voice heard. However, one area where you should always have a say is your healthcare. Healthcare costs tend to rise with age, so you can stay in control of your care and your finances by planning ahead for future healthcare expenses. Here are some steps everyone should take when planning their financial and healthcare futures.
 
Make Sure You’re Covered by Medicare
 
Part of planning for your healthcare future should include making a solid plan for retirement. Medicare may be your best option to pay for healthcare services, so make sure you know how Medicare will benefit you now and in the future. If you have questions about the kind of Medicare coverage you can obtain in your state, be sure to check out this state-by-state guide from Medicare Advantage. You can click on your individual state for easy access to websites and contact information for state-level organizations that can give you the information you are looking for and maybe even help you out when it comes time to apply for your benefits.
 
Talk to Your Loved Ones About Your Care
 
If you are living with a disability, you may have gotten pretty good at taking care of things on your own. For most aging Americans, there will come a time in their life when they need to depend on others for their care. With this in mind, it’s important to know how to ask for help. You can write out your needs ahead of time so that you can match it to the best candidates in your support network. Be upfront about these needs with your loved ones, and be specific. If you think you will need someone to make medical decisions for you, be sure to take the necessary legal steps to give them this authority ahead of time.
 
Know Your Options for Paying for Care
 
Most adults will need some form of long-term health care, but most people fail to properly prepare their finances for the costs of long-term care. If you are not working and have not done so, you may want to look into Social Security benefits that can help you make ends meet when it comes to healthcare costs and other expenses. Options can include looking into VA and other federal benefits, using your savings, or even purchasing long-term care insurance. The latter option is best if you can begin your policy when you are younger; all the more reason to plan ahead.
 
Figuring out how to fit your healthcare needs into your financial future is an important step in making sure you will always have access to the care you need. Take some time to really think about what your healthcare future may look like, ask for help when you need it, and give yourself peace of mind when it comes to preparing for the years ahead.

By Ed Carter, Able Futures
For more articles by Ed, visit his website at ablefutures.org​

 
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