Life expectancy is increasing in Washington and across the United States. While this is good news, it also means that many of our elderly loved ones will require additional care as they age. More and more seniors are moving into assisted living facilities across the nation. With these moves come increased costs and changed financial situations both for seniors and their families. If your loved one is moving into an assisted care facility, you may be wondering if Medicare coverage will help cover the costs.
According to LongTermCare.gov, Medicare does not cover the vast majority of long-term assisted living expenses. It will cover “medically necessary” care, which involves doctor visits, hospital stays, acute care, and prescriptions.
In the event that your elderly loved one is recovering from hospitalization and requires a short-term stay in a nursing facility, Medicare will cover this. However, only the first 20 days are fully covered by Medicare. After this, there is a copay of $154.50 per day from days 21 to 100. After the 100th day in the nursing care facility, Medicare stops covering the cost of residing in a nursing facility.
However, in the event that your loved one only needs part-time care and this is prescribed by a doctor, Medicare will cover a certain amount of in-home living assistance. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and other sorts of therapies offered in Medicare-certified facilities may also be covered if prescribed by a doctor. If your loved one is terminally ill, not expected to live longer than 6 months, and no longer seeking aggressive medical care, Medicare will also cover hospice stays.
