My Medicare Matters® tool
Nationwide teamed up with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to create an unbiased tool to help clients sort through their Medicare options. The tool is available for financial professionals to share with their clients as part of adding value to their relationships.
Try the NCOA My Medicare Matters® tool brought to you by Nationwide.
Learn more about the partnership between Nationwide and NCOA.
Podcast
Listen in as specialists from the Nationwide Retirement Institute and the Advanced Consulting Group discuss Medicare:
Medicare and chronic conditions: While Medicare usually pays for acute care services, coverage for treatment of chronic conditions is not certain.
Client guides
These client-ready guides examine different aspects of Medicare, and may be useful to share with clients seeking details on specific topics.
See additional Medicare resources from Nationwide.
Do you have a Medicare story to share?
Chris and Jerry's Story
A couple in their early 60s were facing some health issues as they approached retirement. Chris, an architect, noticed that his hand was trembling as he sketched, and he spoke to a neurologist. Jerry has had multiple sclerosis for years, and he is losing mobility as time goes on.
They both realized they needed to talk to their financial professional about how to fund health care expenses that they may encounter. In particular, they wanted to know what kind of coverage they will receive from Medicare.
Unique circumstances
Their financial professional reminded them that Chris had purchased a long-term care policy a while ago, so if he needs that kind of support down the road, he has funding in place.
Jerry, however, was not able to purchase long-term care insurance because of his pre-existing condition. And, unfortunately, Medicare generally doesn't cover the personal assistance services that characterize long-term care. It does, however, cover durable medical equipment such as a wheelchair, if it's prescribed by a doctor.
After the meeting, the couple were still concerned about future health care costs for Jerry. They returned a couple of weeks later to discuss ways to fund that care. They learned that an annuity could provide a steady stream of income, which they could use to pay for health care expenses.
Helpful resources
Their financial pro also suggested the pair reach out to their state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) office. Knowledgeable employees at SHIP offices can help develop a plan that will meet as many of their needs as possible.
Lastly, the financial professional recommended that the men continue their learning with resources from the National Council on Aging and at Medicare.gov.
Chris and Jerry were grateful to know where to turn for additional information. Now they're facing the future with more confidence.