Independence with support

Aging adults often arrive at a time where they will need long-term care and assistance with their daily lives. Many will turn to assisted living communities, which allow seniors to maintain some level of independence, while also receiving some help with tasks like housekeeping, nutrition, and other household tasks.

Even still, the costs of this type of care can quickly add up, and many older people will disregard these facilities as an option purely based on price. And unfortunately, Medicare will not cover most costs associated with assisted living.

Continue reading below as we discuss why this is the case, and what types of long-term care Medicare will cover.

No Coverage for Custodial Care

One of the biggest reasons why the bill for assisted living will fall on the residents and their families is because Medicare does not cover “custodial care”. This refers to the help with daily tasks like eating, bathing, or dressing, and is the majority of the care that is received while at an assisted living facility.

Thus, a large portion of the costs for living in these facilities will not be covered by Medicare. However, there are some assisted living costs that Medicare can cover.

Coverage for Skilled Nursing Care

So, what are the assisted living costs that Medicare may cover? In certain cases, Medicare Part A will cover skilled nursing care, which is provided by a certified nurse or doctor. This could include anything from physical therapy, to changing of sterile dressings, and more.

This can be very beneficial; however, skilled nursing care is often not administered at an assisted living facility–this is often more common within nursing homes.

There are some assisted living costs that will fall under this category, including transportation to doctor’s appointments or certain preventative health services.

Coverage from Medicaid

Apart from Medicare, individuals that receive Medicaid may receive some coverage for assisted living costs.

The qualifications for Medicaid vary from state to state, so not everyone will be able to receive these benefits. However, it is helpful to know that you could receive assistance with long-term care costs under Medicaid.

Coverage Under Medicare Advantage Plans

Lastly, Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage, could have some coverage for long-term care costs. These types of plans are available through private providers, and include the benefits of both Part A and Part B as well.

The cost and qualifications for Part C will vary by provider, so shop around to see which is the best option, and which will cover assisted living costs.

Written by Bailey Schramm in partnership with silver wholesaler Silver Superstore.