FAQs

General FAQs

Yes!  We believe it is every Guest’s right to choose their Attending Physician.  The physicians that see our Guests must complete the Facility’s credentialing process which includes having a current license to practice medicine in the State where the Facility is located.

Yes!  Since The Laurels is your “home away from home”, we encourage you to bring items that will make your stay a pleasurable experience.  However, since space in your room may be limited, you may wish to be selective with the items you bring.  Some examples of suggested items include pictures or photo albums of family, a favorite blanket or pillow, and books or small collectibles that may bring joy during your time of healing.  Examples of things that you may wish to leave home include fragile or irreplaceable family heirlooms and original copies of important financial or legal papers.

Yes!  We will promptly deliver mail within twenty-four (24) hours of delivery by the postal service.  We will also assist in the delivery of outgoing mail to the postal service, except when there is no regularly scheduled postal delivery and pick-up service.  It is our pleasure to assist any Guest who needs assistance with reading their mail or in writing letters.

Yes!  Our Guests enjoy pet visits.  All pets or animals that enter the facility must have current standard vaccinations and have had a health exam within the previous year.  Pet visitation can occur during the Facility’s recommended visiting hours.  All visiting pets must be kept on a leash and in control by their owners at all times.  Overnight visitation is prohibited and animals are prohibited from entering dining areas or the Dietary Department, at all times.

Yes!  If a Guest chooses to do so, he/she may consume a reasonable amount of alcoholic beverages at their own expense, with the approval of their attending physician.

The Laurels is a non-smoking facility.


Medicare FAQs

Medicare is a health insurance plan funded and administered by the Federal Government. Individuals age 65 and older are eligible for Medicare regardless of their income or asset levels. Medicare may also be available for individuals younger than 65 if they have qualifying disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Medicare is broken into four parts (A, B, C, and D), each covering different items and requiring different premiums. The four different parts are explained below. For further information on Medicare, visit www.Medicare.gov.

Medicare Part A is the "hospitalization" portion of Medicare.  Part A covers inpatient hospital care, short-term nursing and rehabilitation stays in a nursing facility, home health care, and hospice. Most individuals are automatically enrolled in Part A when they turn 65. Some people must voluntarily enroll and pay a premium if they have not met the lifetime payroll tax requirements.  Part A covered inpatient care may require a deductible and/or copay by the beneficiary.

Medicare Part B is the "supplemental medical insurance" portion of Medicare.  Part B covers physician services, outpatient radiology and laboratory services, therapy, medically necessary ambulance transport, certain supplies and equipment, and a few other services not covered by Part A.  Part B does not cover most outpatient medications.  Part B is a voluntary program that requires eligible individuals to enroll and pay a monthly premium. Most people with Part A choose to enroll in Part B as Part A and Part B are designed to provide a comprehensive health plan when used together.

Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage.  Medicare Part C plans may occasionally be referred to as Medicare HMOs or Medicare PPOs.  Medicare Part C plans are administered by private insurers and health care organizations rather than the Federal Government.  An individual may choose to enroll within a Medicare Part C plan in lieu of Medicare Part A and Part B.  The Medicare Part C plan must provide inpatient and outpatient benefits equal to or greater than the combined benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B, including short-term nursing and rehabilitation.  A premium is paid to the Part C plan rather than Part B.  Deductibles and copays may apply.  Some Part C plans allow enrollees to use any Medicare contracted provider while other Part C plans restrict provider choice to a limited panel.

Medicare Part D is the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.  Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs.  Part A only covers drugs provided during an inpatient hospital or short-term nursing and rehabilitation stay. Part D is administered through private insurance companies. A Medicare beneficiary must select and enroll in a Part D plan.  Premiums and/or deductibles and copays apply to most Part D plans.

MediGap insurance plans may be purchased through private insurers to cover the expense of meeting the deductibles and copays of Medicare Part A, Part B, and/or Part D. Some MediGap plans also cover certain items that are not covered by Medicare.

Medicare Part A or B does not cover extended or long-term care stays in a nursing facility, assisted living facility or independent living center. Nor do they cover specific services such as private duty nursing, most chiropractic services, dental care, optometry services or general transportation for doctor visits.


Medicaid FAQs

Please make an appointment with The Laurels' Business Office Manager to discuss your situation so they can assist with the filling out of the application and guiding you in the process.

You may also find more information at the following web site:

To qualify for Medicaid, an individual must pass a means test in which his/her income and assets are reviewed. The income and asset thresholds vary from state to state. For Medicaid applicants with a surviving spouse, the spouse will be allowed to keep certain assets such as a house and automobile and continue to receive income up to a limit.

The practice of transferring assets to children or friends in order to qualify for Medicaid is illegal. States are required by federal statute to look back 5 years from a Medicaid application date to determine if assets have been transferred.

Medicaid is a health insurance program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and the federal government. Medicaid is administered by the states. Medicaid is considered a secondary payor to Medicare and other health insurances. If an individual has both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid will only pay for services not covered by Medicare. Medicaid will also pay the deductibles and copays for Medicare or other primary health insurers. When Medicaid is the primary coverage, it pays the entire expense of care less any shared costs determined by the Medicaid enrollee's income and assets.

Medicaid covers inpatient hospitalizations, short-term skilled nursing facility stays, extended and long-term care stays in a nursing facility, home health, hospice, physician visits, outpatient tests, therapy, medications, certain supplies and equipment, and many other services.

All Laurel Health Care Company nursing facilities are certified Medicaid providers.


Insurance FAQs

Traditional Health Insurance may be obtained through your employer, trade group or purchased independently.  Health Insurance plans generally cover inpatient care such as hospital admissions and short-term nursing and rehabilitation in a nursing facility.  Most plans also cover outpatient services such as physician visits, x-rays, lab tests, medications and therapy.  Health Insurance plans usually do not cover extended stays or long-term care in a nursing facility or assisted living facility.  

Health Insurance plans taking the form of an HMO or PPO will often contract with a limited group of inpatient and outpatient providers.

An individual eligible for traditional Medicare Part A & B may choose to enroll within a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C).  A Medicare Advantage plan is administered by a private insurance company or health organization rather than the Federal Government.  Medicare Advantage plans cover short-term nursing and rehabilitation in a nursing facility.  Medicare Advantage plans do not cover extended stays or long-term care in a nursing facility or assisted living facility.  

Some Medicare Advantage plans allow enrollees to use any Medicare contracted provider while other plans restrict provider choice to a limited panel of providers.

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance developed specifically to cover the costs of long-term care services, most of which are not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.  Long-Term Care plans vary greatly in terms of the benefit amounts and length of coverage.  If you have a Long Term Care insurance policy, The Laurels staff would be happy to sit down with you and your family to discuss the benefits available to you through your plan.

Your Long-Term Care policy may cover a short-term nursing and rehabilitation stay, extended stay or  long-term care stay in our facility. 

© 2024 Ciena Healthcare. All rights reserved. Site by m2.