Medicare does not pay for long-term care. It covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, and it never covers custodial care, which is ongoing help with bathing, dressing, eating and similar daily tasks. Once your need shifts from rehab to daily assistance, the bill moves to you.
Original Medicare (Part A) covers a skilled nursing facility only after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay, and only for the rehab or medical care you need during recovery.
| Days in a benefit period | What you pay in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 20 | $0 |
| Days 21 to 100 | $217 per day |
| Day 101 and beyond | All costs |
Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premium and deductible rates. Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans can change what you owe. Check your own plan documents.
Medicare.gov states that Medicare does not cover custodial care when it is the only care you need. Custodial care means help with the activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, eating, moving from bed to chair, using the toilet.
Most people who need this kind of care pay out of pocket, qualify for Medicaid after spending down savings, or carry long-term care insurance. Guy Jean explains how each path works for your situation.
Only for a limited skilled nursing stay. After a qualifying inpatient hospital stay, Medicare covers up to 100 days per benefit period, with no daily charge for days 1 to 20 and a $217 daily coinsurance for days 21 to 100 in 2026. It does not cover long-term custodial stays.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover what Original Medicare covers, so they generally do not pay for custodial care either. Some plans add limited extras such as short in-home support, but the benefits and limits vary by plan, so read the plan documents before assuming coverage.
Medicare Supplement plans cover costs that Original Medicare leaves behind, such as the skilled nursing coinsurance. They do not add coverage for custodial care that Medicare itself excludes.
Paying from savings, using Medicaid after meeting your state's financial limits, or buying long-term care insurance while you can still qualify. Guy Jean compares the insurance side across carriers and can explain how the others work in general terms.
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