Does Medicare cover nursing home care?

Medicare does cover some nursing home care, but it has certain requirements and limitations. Medicare Part A typically covers short term, or short-stay, nursing home care. In general, Medicare will cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing care in a Medicare-approved facility if the individual has been hospitalized for at least three days prior to the nursing home stay and the care is considered medically necessary.

However, Medicare does not usually cover long-stay nursing care services. Longer term nursing care can be covered by a long term care (LTC) insurance plan or your State’s Medicaid program for individuals with limited income and assets.

Last updated: January 23, 2023