Funding DependencyWhat Medicare really covers
100 days the most Medicare pays for skilled nursing care per benefit period
And only after a 3-day hospital stay, for skilled care
It's one of the most common surprises in long-term care: Medicare doesn't pay for most of it.
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing care per benefit period, and only after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three days, when you need daily skilled care. Days 21 to 100 come with a daily coinsurance.
What it doesn't cover is custodial care: help with bathing, dressing, eating and supervision, which is most of what long-term care is.
Source: Medicare.gov