Q&A – Will Medicare Cover the Cost of Nursing Home Care?

I’m having an argument with my brother about whether Medicare will cover the cost of nursing home care for our mother. He says it will, I say it won’t. Who’s right?

It depends. It’s not that easy to qualify for coverage. Generally, if someone with Medicare has been hospitalized for at least three days for an illness or injury and requires the “skilled” care of a medical professional, Medicare will cover part or all of a nursing home stay for up to 100 days per benefit period. If you’re contemplating home health care as an alternative, be advised that the restrictions on qualifying for reimbursement are similarly burdensome.