Doesn’t Medicare pay for long term care?

No. Medicare is designed to pay for the services associated with acute medical conditions. Medicare pays for a very limited amount of skilled care that is provided after a 3-day prior hospitalization. The care that Medicare covers includes skilled care only in a facility (less than 1% of all care is provided in a nursing home) and some limited home health care designed to rehabilitate someone after a hospitalization. This rehabilitation is limited to skilled services such as respiratory, speech or physical therapy. Home health care does not include services associated with independent living such as housekeeping, meal preparation, shopping, etc.