People go to nursing homes for different reasons, like if they’re sick, hurt, recovering
from surgery, or have chronic care needs or disabilities that require ongoing nursing
care. If you need nursing home care, it’s important to know how nursing homes work
and where to find one that’s right for you. Visit Medicare.gov/care-compare to find and
compare nursing homes, and get detailed information about quality of care.
What’s nursing home care?
Nursing homes are facilities for people who usually need 24-hour care. Nursing homes
can provide skilled nursing care or rehabilitation care for people with short-term or
outpatient care needs. They may also offer long-term and specialized care for people
with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Nursing home care includes:
- Short-term care for people who need rehabilitation after surgery, like physical therapy
after a hip or knee replacement - Short-term care for people who need skilled nursing to recover from an illness, like
pneumonia - Long-term care for people who need help with activities of daily living, like bathing,
dressing, or eating
Does Medicare cover nursing home care?
Medicare may cover short-term nursing and other related care, like rehab care.
- Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers short-term nursing home or rehab
care (up to 100 days) in a Medicare-certified nursing home after hospitalization. - Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers doctor visits and physical, speech, or
occupational therapy, even if you get these services while in a nursing home. - Medicare Part D (drug coverage): Covers prescription drugs you need while in a
nursing home.
Medicare generally doesn’t cover long-term nursing home stays.
Visit Medicare.gov/providers-services/original-medicare/nursing-homes for more
information.
What if I need long-term care?
Your state’s Medicaid program may cover long-term nursing home care if you qualify,
even though Medicare doesn’t. Medicaid may also help cover: - Home-and community-based services, like at-home care, home-delivered meals,
home modifications, and adult day care - Services in an assisted living facility, depending on your needs and the state you
live in
Contact your state’s Medicaid office if you have questions or need help. Visit
Medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip to find contact
information for your state.
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is a federal agency that can also help
you find long-term care resources. ACL funds support programs in the community
to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with
disabilities, and their families and caregivers. Visit ACL.gov to learn more. You can
also use the Eldercare Locator at Eldercare.acl.gov, or call 1-800-677-1116 to find help
in your community.
Before you make any decisions about long-term care, talk to someone you trust like a
family member, your health care provider, or a social worker.
How can I find & compare nursing homes?
To find nursing homes, visit Medicare.gov/care-compare:
- Select “Nursing homes including rehab services.”
- Enter your location or the name of the nursing home you’re interested in and select
“Search.” - Select the nursing home you’re interested in. Use the “Compare” feature to
compare up to 3 nursing homes side by side.
You can find information like:
- Star ratings of 1 to 5 stars
- Health and safety inspection
reports - Quality measures
- Staffing levels
- Nursing homes cited for
abuse
All nursing homes on Medicare.gov/care-compare are Medicare-certified. This means
they offer services at a level of quality Medicare approves and have passed certain
inspections.
reprinted from Medicare.com.