# Does Medicare cover long-term care?

Medicare does not pay for most long-term care — sometimes called custodial care — which includes help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating. Medicare can help pay for medically necessary skilled care in a nursing facility for a limited time after a qualifying hospital stay.

## What it means

- Original Medicare does not pay for custodial long-term care.
- Medicare Part A can cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay.
- Medicaid — not Medicare — is the primary payer of long-term custodial care for people who qualify.

## Action steps

1. For long-term custodial care, contact your state Medicaid office to check eligibility.
2. Consider long-term care insurance if you're planning ahead and don't expect to qualify for Medicaid.

## Sources

- [Long-term care (medicare.gov)](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care)

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Published: 2026-07-18T00:00:00+00:00
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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