My father died in April at the age of 88. My mother, who is 81, has all of her mental faculties -- but Dad shielded her from all of the bureaucracy of the world.
That's going to change a bit now -- she will have to leave my father's group health plan and start by signing up for Medicare Part B (we'll also get her a supplemental insurance policy, I imagine). To help get this done, she gave me her power of attorney.
But that isn't good enough for Medicare. They won't accept a power of attorney for "privacy reasons." So, in order to help Mom through the bureaucracy of Medicare I have to do one of two things: a) get her on every call to Medicare to verify that I can act for her; or b) get a doctor to deem her not capable and become her "personal representative" (which means I'm responsible for all of her health issues -- they will send ME the money and I'll have to disburse it and account quarterly to Medicare on how I spent it). Neither's exactly sensible. Another victim of privacy rules. -- Paul Rosenzweig
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