Long-term care
Long-term care (also called “custodial care” or “long-term services and support”) includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. This may include:
- Personal care assistance (like help with everyday activities, including dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom)
- Home-delivered meals
- Adult day health care
- Home and community-based services
Medicare and most other health insurance, including Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), don’t pay for non-medical long-term care. You might qualify for long-term care through Medicaid, or you can choose to buy private long-term care insurance.
You can get non-medical long-term care services at home, in the community, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. It’s important to start planning for non-medical long-term care now to maintain your independence and make sure you get the care you may need, in the setting you want, now and in the future. If you’re an American Indian or Alaska Native, contact your local Indian health care provider for more information.
How can I find out about long-term care options if I’m currently in a hospital or nursing home?
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay 100% for non-covered services, including most long-term care.
Things to know
Long-term care resources
Use these resources to get more information about long-term care:
| If you want... | You can... |
|---|---|
| Help planning for long-term care | Visit the Administration for Community Living for long-term care information and planning resources. |
| Information about long-term care insurance | Call your State Insurance Department or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to get the phone number. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. |
| To find out if you qualify for long-term care coverage through Medicaid | Call your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office. |
| A copy of "A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance" from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners | Visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. |
| To find out about home- and community-based services | Explore Medicare-covered home health services or contact your local Area Agency on Aging. Medicaid may also cover some of these services, so contact your state Medicaid office for more information. |
| Subsidized senior housing | Explore state and federal programs that help pay for housing for some seniors with low to moderate incomes. Some of these programs also offer help with meals and other activities, like housekeeping, shopping, and laundry. |
| Information about Continuing Care Retirement Communities (communities that offer different levels of housing and care) | Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for a list of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in your area. If you're considering a CCRC, check the quality of its nursing home and its inspection report (posted in the facility). |
| To find group living arrangements | Visit the Eldercare Locator for more information. |
| Information about PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), a Medicare/Medicaid program that helps people meet health care needs in the community instead of going to a nursing home or other facility | Learn more about PACE. |