Insuring a loved one in your family gets excellent health care can be difficult even in ideal situations. Though Medicare covers many expenses, it does not cover all of them as many believe. Assumptions are often made about the level of coverage and families are shocked to discover Medicare has the power to refuse payment for a nursing home or for home health services. There are also gaps in health care coverage for medical procedures. This often places the burden of the cost on the family. Even if Medicare or a state controlled Medicaid plan agrees to pay for long term nursing home care the family must locate an acceptable facility that has space. So the first question is concerned with the type of care needed and the second question concerns how to pay for the health care. There is long term care insurance and secondary health insurance that will cover whatever Medicare excludes, but the policies must be purchased long before the elder actually needs to use them. The family should meet with a health care counselor and make sure they understand all the options available for elder health care. There are also legal issues to be considered including the living will and the power of attorney. Though these can be sensitive topics, families should do everything possible to make the elder's transition to long term care as easy and affordable as possible. This will insure the elder can get the health care needed without delay.