ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

Health and Long-Term Care Benefits

Paying for Long-Term Care

What federal programs pay for long-term care in a nursing home?

Medicare does not pay for a significant amount of nursing-home care. Coverage of skilled nursing care is narrowly defined and limited to 20 days of full coverage and a maximum of 80 additional days with a large coinsurance payment.

Medicaid, on the other hand, pays a substantial portion of the nation's nursing-home bill (over 40 percent). Medicaid, however, pays only when almost all your assets have been depleted. Medicaid will cover nursing-home expenses if your condition requires nursing-home care, the nursing home is certified by the state Medicaid agency, and you meet income and other eligibility requirements.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays for some nursing-home care for veterans in VA facilities and private facilities, but the benefit is limited to the extent that resources and facilities are available. Priority is given to veterans with medical problems related to their military service, and to very old veterans of wartime service, and very poor veterans. Contact your local VA office for more information.