Many are wondering if there is any hope for the rising costs of care home fees. There are just as many who wonder if perhaps they paid for care that should have been covered by other means. In order to claim back those fees however, you need to know if you are eligible and whether you were eligible for assistance in paying fees in the first place.
Since 2007, the rules regarding care home fees have changed. Originally, each health authority had their own set of criteria for determining eligibility. But now, all follow the same basic rules.
Refund Eligibility
In order to determine if you are eligible for a refund you have to consider your care needs. If you or a loved one had serious health concerns and needed to be admitted to a long term care facility, then you may very well be eligible for those fees back. The level of care is very important here.
Someone who could absolutely not take care of him or herself and required constant care, is likely eligible. If you or your loved one suffered from a disease that completely debilitated their health, a refund is likely. You have to consider the level of care that was required and what was paid for when determining whether or not you may be entitled to a refund.
How to Apply
Applying for a refund of your fees can seem tricky. If you or your loved one was assessed prior to October 2007, you will need to speak with your health practitioner or Primary Care Trust. Ask about a continuing care review or you can request a retrospective assessment that will determine your needs from the first day that you were admitted to the long term care facility.
Key Findings
If during your assessment it is determined that you or your loved one was wrongly assessed the first time, you may possibly get a refund of the fees that you paid. You can be entitled to receiving a refund even if the patient in question is no longer residing at the long term care facility.
How far back you can file a claim will depend on where you live. In England, you can file a claim as far back as April 2004. In Northern Ireland you are not permitted to claim retrospective fees and in Wales you can claim back fees as far back as April 1996 in some cases.
Summary
It is important that you learn more about refund eligibility and that you adhere to claim filing deadlines. Check with your local authority about these dates to ensure that you get your claim filed on time. You can learn more about what makes you eligible for a refund of your fees, by contacting your local authority as well.
This article was provided by Cheselden Continuing Care, the leading review specialists of care home fees in the UK. Visit them at Cheselden.co.uk to learn more.
Comments