Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?

Posted by Pattie Scoma
Estimated Reading Time 1 minute 14 seconds

Many retirees are surprised to learn that Medicare does not fully cover long-term care. Understanding what is and isn’t covered can help you plan for potential future expenses and make important retirement planning decisions.

What Medicare Covers

• • Short-term skilled nursing care: Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay.
  • Home health care: Covers intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, and home aides under specific conditions.
  • Hospice care: For terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.

What Medicare Does NOT Cover

• • Long-term nursing home care: Medicare does not pay for custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating).
  • Assisted living facilities: Medicare does not cover costs for assisted living or personal care homes.
  • Ongoing home health aide services: Only short-term, skilled care is covered.

Alternative Ways to Pay for Long-Term Care

Even with Medicare’s limited coverage of long-term care, there are ways to ensure that your needs are met. And since long-term care becomes common after age 65 or so, it’s important to learn your options now so that you can plan for this possibility.

• • Medicaid: Provides coverage for long-term care, but eligibility is based on income and assets.
  • Long-Term Care Insurance: Helps cover costs for nursing home care, home health care, and assisted living.
  • Personal Savings & Annuities: Many retirees use personal funds to cover long-term care expenses.
  • Hybrid Life Insurance Policies: Some life insurance policies include long-term care benefits.

Planning ahead for long-term care expenses can help protect your assets and ensure quality care as you age, but you don’t have to make these decisions alone.  You can work with us to identify the options that work best for you.  We’re here to help!