HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

14
Mrs. YELINECK. One does not expect something like this. Do you
expect anything like this?
Senator HEINZ. I do not mean in terms of the illnesses. I mean in
terms of the bills, between your policy and the Federal Government
Medicare Program, did you have any inkling that you were
not well-protected?
Mrs. YELINECK. No, sir-especially after taking out the supplemental
insurance policy. We thought we were very well-covered.
Plus Don took out another supplement which would cover a nursing
home. And he said, "God forbid we would ever have to use
this." But we thought all right, we had better, we had just better.
Senator HEINZ. And why hasn't the nursing home supplement
paid the bill at Clearview?
Mrs. YELINECK. First of all, Clearview is a Medicare-approved
care center, which very few are, and my husband is in what they
call the 24-hour skilled nursing care. And actually, he should be totally
covered by Medicare because of needing 24-hour skilled nursing
care. But their argument to me was that he has reached a plateau
where he is not getting any better and he is not getting any
worse. So he asked for a second opinion last Thursday, and they
are going to convey him by patient's conveyance to University Hospital,
where the four doctors who have been taking care of him for
7 years.
A cardiologist came in the last time, and he said, "Mrs. Yelineck,
I am so sorry to tell you this. I have been a cardiologist here for 27
years. Medicare has overruled me and told me that I must send
your husband home." He said, "He is likely to have a cardiac
arrest tonight with his arrhythmia, his heart.'
I thank the Lord he did not.
Senator HEINZ, Mrs. Yelineck, my time has expired.
Mrs. YELINECK. Oh, I am sorry.
Senator HEINZ. No, it is not your fault. The committee operates
under rules of fairness that are appropriate, and I am sure my colleagues,
Senator Pressler and Senator Burdick, will have other inquiries.
But I thank you. All I can say is I suspect you are not alone
when it comes to people who, having a Medigap policy, having
Medicare, wake up one day, maybe many years later, and find that
their insurance Policy covers them everyplace except that it has
got a hole over the heart. It doesn't cover nursing home care. And
that is where you have really been hit.
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes.
Chairman MELCHER. Senator Burdick?
Senator BURDICK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mrs. Yelineck, welcome to the committee. As I understand your
situation, to recap a little bit, you have sold your home.
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes, sir.
Senator BURDICK. You have no income yourself?
Mrs. YELINECK. No, sir. Our income is our Social Security.
Senator BURDICK. Social Security. Outside Social Security, you
and your husband have no income?
Mrs. YELINECK. No, sir.
Senator BURDICK. And how much Social Security do you get, together?