Medicare Coverage for Assisted Living

Many people mistakenly believe that Medicare, which is administered by the Health Care Financing Administration, covers the costs of most long-term care services. In reality, Medicare only covers short- term, acute care during a hospital stay. Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides insurance to millions of Americans who meet the following criteria: 1. People who are 65 years of age 2. People who are disabled; and 3. People with permanent kidney failure. Medicare (Part A) may help to pay for nursing care only if a person meets all of the following conditions: 4. A person requires daily skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services that can only be received in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). This need must be certified by a doctor. 5. A person has been hospitalized for at least three days in a row (not including the day of discharge) prior to entering a SNF. 6. A person enters the SNF within a short time (usually 30 days) after leaving the hospital. 7. A person's care is for an illness that was treated in the hospital or arose when he or she was in a SNF for an illness treated in a hospital. Medicare (Part A) can help pay up to 100 days of skilled care in a SNF during a benefit period. It pays for all covered services for the first 20 days. For days 21-100, a daily co-insurance amount can be charged to a Medicare recipient. If a person requires more than a 100 days in a benefit period, he or she is responsible for all charges beginning with the 101st day of continued residence at a SNF. http://www.uselderguide.com/resources.html