Medicare is designed to provide benefits for certain healthcare related expenses. Part A covers hospital stays, and Part B covers doctors services, medical supplies, and outpatient care.
Nursing homes primarily provide for long term care needs - assistance with the activities of daily living. Medical care provided by the nursing home may be covered such as skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation services. But the cost of the residence, meals, and unskilled nursing are not covered by Medicare regardless of the diagnosis.
Medicare does not cover skilled care in a nursing home over a certain number of days. Considering that Alzheimer's can be debilitating, yet progress slowly, it is common for persons with Alzheimer's Disease to live for years in a skilled care facility with just minimal assistance from Medicare. Purchasing Long Term Care Insurance can provide the funds needed to hire help at home or pay for housing in a facility designed for persons with Alzheimer's.
Nursing homes primarily provide for long term care needs - assistance with the activities of daily living. Medical care provided by the nursing home may be covered such as skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation services. But the cost of the residence, meals, and unskilled nursing are not covered by Medicare regardless of the diagnosis.