Myth that Medicare Covers Long-Term Care Persists

Despite the increase in the public's awareness about the issue of long-term care and the understanding that there's a good chance they may need it in the future, many people are still confused about who or what will cover the costs of long-term care.There continues to be the misconception that Medicare will cover the costs of long-term care. MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER EXPENSES FOR LONG-TERM CARE.

What does Medicare cover? Medicare provides health insurance coverage to Americans over age 65 and to some people with disabilities who are under age 65. It pays for physician and hospital care - NOT the expenses associated with the care of people who simply need assistance with the activities of daily living, or supervision due to cognitive impairment.

So where did people get the idea that their Medicare coverage would cover long-term care expenses? This misunderstanding is probably attributable to the wording in the Medicare Handbook. In it, it's explained that under certain conditions, Medicare covers thhe first 20 days in a skilled nursing home  and another 80 days of care on a co-payment basis. But care less than 100 days is short-term care, not long-term care.

Medicare's short-term benefit is designed to partially cover rehabilitation from a serious injury or illness. There is also a three-day prior hospitalization requirement to qualify for benefits. In most cases where long-term care is needed, there is no prior hospitalization.

Now many of you reading this are saying to yourself, "but what about my Medicare Supplement policy- won't that cover my long-term care expenses?" This is another common misconception. In fact, Medicare Supplement policies only cover services approved by Medicare. These policies do not cover long-term care either.