Does Medicare Pay All My Nursing Home Costs?

Medicare does not pay for all the nursing home costs. Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of "skilled nursing" care per spell of illness. However, the definition of "skilled nursing" care and the other conditions for obtaining Medicare coverage are rigorous. Consequently, few nursing home residents receive the full 100 days of coverage. Therefore, Medicare pays only about 9 percent of nursing home care in the United States. Medicaid will pay for nursing home costs. However, their are stringent qualifications.

Check out the 2011 Medicare and You Handbook on the Medicare website ensure you receive the nursing care benefits to which you are entitled.