Doesn't Medicare Cover Me Anyway?

A Note on Medicare

Don’t be confused by Medicare. Medicare pays for skilled nursing facility care (not for assisted living or custodial care) for just 20 days, and then only if you have been admitted to the facility within 30 days following at least a 3 day inpatient hospitalization (that means under a doctor’s order, not simply for observation), not counting the day you are discharged from the hospital.

Medicare will continue to pay for your skilled nursing facility stay for days 21 through 100, but subject to a co-pay by you of $167.50 (for 2018). That’s an out-of-pocket expense to you of about $5,025 a month.

After day 100, you’re on your own.

Bottom Line: Medicare simply doesn’t pay for long-term care.