Senior Living Guide
Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?
For most families, the key distinction is between medical care and long-term custodial care. Medicare generally does not pay the ongoing room, board and personal-care cost of assisted living.
What to focus on
- Do not build an assisted-living budget assuming Medicare will pay the monthly facility bill.
- Medicare may still cover eligible medical services while someone lives in assisted living.
- Short-term skilled nursing coverage is different from long-term assisted living.
- Medi-Cal programs may be relevant for some California residents who meet eligibility requirements.
- Ask each facility for a complete written cost estimate and which payment programs it accepts.
Important context
Medicare states that it does not pay for long-term care and that most long-term care is non-medical help with everyday activities. California's Assisted Living Waiver is a separate Medi-Cal program with eligibility rules and participating locations.
This guide is educational and is not medical, legal, tax or financial advice. Verify current facility information and program eligibility directly.
Senior Living Scout approach: We separate facility marketing from licensing information and do not treat the existence of a complaint as proof that an allegation was true.
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