Is Long-Term Care Covered Under Medicare or Medicaid? Medical
Medicare Medicaid and Long-Term Care
What the programs cover and what they don t
Getty Images What role does the federal government play in assisting Americans in need of ? The answers, which lie primarily within two programs — Medicare and Medicaid — m a y surprise you. Here is a breakdown of the services they do and don’t offer. Does Medicare cover the costs of long-term care
No. This is a common misconception. As a reminder, that covers costs related to illnesses and injuries (and, to some extent, their prevention). As such, it will help pay for up to 100 days of rehabilitation or skilled nursing care after a major health issue, based on a doctor’s recommendation. But longer stays, such as a permanent move into a nursing home, are not covered. Special Report Long-Term Care
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Some of these managed care plans offer nonmedical services at home, such as meals and installation of grab bars, says Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute. And a small number of those managed care options, called special needs plans, offer some support services at home. What about Medicaid
Medicaid does pay for long-term nursing home care, but only for people with very low income and modest savings who can no longer handle basic daily tasks like bathing, toileting, dressing or feeding themselves. Gleckman says a good rule of thumb is that if you have less than $750 in income per month and less than $2,000 in financial assets (not counting a home), you likely qualify for Medicaid. This can exclude a large number of people who draw , given that the average monthly benefit check is more than $1,600. Remember that Medicaid is meant to help just the very poor, although sometimes people use up their savings and spend so much of their income on care that they do become eligible. But also note that the Medicaid program is a partnership between the federal government and each state, meaning criteria for who qualifies and what benefits are available can vary based on where you live. What about care services at home? br
As noted, Medicare will pay for assistance like physical therapy or skilled nursing care, whether in a facility for short periods or at home, where there is no specific time limit, while a patient is recovering from an illness or injury or to maintain their function or prevent a slow decline. A may help with some at-home medical care costs, Gleckman says. “But for people who are unable to care for themselves at home and don’t have a family member to help manage their daily activities, Medicare doesn’t fill that gap,” says Tricia Neuman, head of the Kaiser Family Foundation Program on Medicare Policy. Medicaid can cover aides to help with activities like dressing and toileting, but the eligibility requirements are stringent, says Sara Rosenbaum, a law professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. What about other government support services
Veterans should check with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which has some programs for those needing ongoing care, including a foster care program through which veterans live with families who can help them. For broader background on long-term care, visit longtermcare.acl.gov. The area agencies on aging are a good clearinghouse for information on nonprofits or other community resources. Go to . What if I just need a break as a caregiver
Some state Medicaid programs pay for adult day programs that offer health care services. And some Medicare Advantage plans are beginning to offer coverage for adult day programs and other breaks for family members, says Robert Saunders, senior research director for health care transformation at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. Tamara Lytle is a Washington-based writer who covers government and business. She is the former Washington bureau chief of the Orlando Sentinel. Caregiving Resources & Tools
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