About Medicare Pertaining to Long Term Care Insurance
One of the most common misconceptions
pertaining to Long Term Care is that Medicare will pay for all
Long Term Care costs.
Medicare is a federal program
that provides some hospital and medical insurance to people
65 and older, some people with disabilities under the age of
65, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney
failure requiring dialysis or a transplant).
The benefits for nursing home
and home health care are very limited. Medicare's skilled nursing
home coverage does not cover most nursing home care. Medicare
will pay the first 100 days in a nursing home if you are receiving
skilled care and you have at least a 3 days hospital stay prior
to entering the nursing home. Medicare will not cover homemaker
services and does not pay for a home health aide to provide
personal care, all home health care services must be skilled
care for Medicare to pay.
There are also copays and deductibles
you are responsible for. It is important not to rely on Medicare
for your Long Term Care needs.
Sources:
NAIC, Shopper's Guide to Long Term Care Insurance,2003
www.opm.gov/insure/ltc/snippets.htm
Some things to keep in mind
about Medicare's coverage for Long Term Care:
- Most Long Term Care is not skilled care
- Most Long Term Care does not take place in a nursing
home
- Most nursing home stays do not immediately
follow a hospital stay
- Most people require types of care in their
home that Medicare does not offer, such as personal care and homemaker
services
- Most people will not start Medicare coverage
until age 65
For further information Medicare's benefits,
eligibility, enrollment, etc. please visit
Centers for Medicare Services.
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