Does Medicare Cover Assisted Living or Memory Care Costs?

Medicare only provides limited support for long-term care needs. It only covers 100 days in a nursing home, but only if you need the care after being hospitalized. Medicare will pay for home health care, but their requirements are difficult to meet and they only cover four to ten hours of care a week. For long-term nursing home stays, Medicare will only pay for certified nursing facilities. The certification comes from their certification program for home health and hospice agencies.

Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for assisted living or continuing care retirement communities. If you need long-term care from these facilities, you will need to find alternate forms of financial support.

Alternate Forms of Support for Assisted Living and Memory Care

Since Medicare can’t help people wanting to take advantage of assisted living, there are other ways to find financial assistance. The following are some of the ones you may be able to use.

Medicaid

Medicaid can help pay for home health care, nursing homes, and other long-term care services. The catch is you must fall within your state’s low income criteria. If you don’t, the chances of receiving help with assisted living and memory care costs is slim.

Every states has Medicaid waiver programs. This helps the aging population stay in the community by living in an assisted living facility. Again, you will have to meet low income eligibility criteria for the state and pass the needs assessment. The needs assessment will identify the activities of daily living you need assistance with such as toileting, bathing, and dressing.

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE is available to people who have Medicare or Medicaid. It’s not available in all states, though. If your state does offer PACE, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 55 years old.
• Pass a frail assessment screening to justify the need for nursing home care.
• Sign and agree to the enrollment agreement from PACE.

The program is beneficial if you meet the eligibility requirements. It will cover all medical, social, and rehabilitative services. It will also cover social work services, meals, assisted living, and nursing home care.