The insurance doctor: Immigrant shunned medicine, but comforted by Medicare | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

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by By Peter Trozan

At 65 she enrolled in Medicare but only saw a doctor once during the next 25 years. At age 91, Jenny fell and broke her clavicle and severely injured her lower back and hip.

When she left the hospital, Jenny moved into my house, and together with my wife’s help, we took care of her 24/7. You see, Jenny, is my mother.

Although she experienced excruciating pain and would scream out when being moved, she adamantly refused pain medications. After five months she healed sufficiently to return to her own home. Last week Jenny fell again, this time fracturing her hip. Once again, she moved in with us, again refusing all prescription meds.

Because she used natural remedies, her medical expenses have been virtually non-existent. Nonetheless, it has been a great help and comfort having Medicare for those unforeseen accidents. Without a doubt, my mother is a rare individual, but even she has benefited from the medical support provided by our community:

> A pendant worn around her neck to call for help in an emergency (our own expense).

> Ambulance and paramedics (Medicare pays 80 percent).

> Emergency room and CT scans (Medicare pays 80 percent).

> Homecare services provided by the staff at Columbine. Since home care is far cheaper than having someone institutionalized, Medicare pays 100 percent for home care rather than the usual 80 percent.

> Hospice care for about 6 months a few years ago. This is supposed to be for terminally ill patients and is covered by Medicare at 100 percent. Jenny beat the odds and confounded the experts as she “graduated” out of Hospice.

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