What is the difference between MediCARE and MediCAID, and doesn MediCARE cover a nursing home stay?
MEDICARE is your government health insurance. It covers medical expenses such as hospital and doctor charges. It has a limited benefit for a nursing home stay, but only if you are hospitalized for at least three days, require skilled nursing care, and are continuing to benefit medically. Under those circumstances, you may be entitled to benefits (100 days, at the most). Under ANY other circumstances, you are on your own. MEDICARE does not pay for long-term care. MEDICAID, on the other hand, is the Federally funded, state administered program designed to provide long term care (nursing home, foster care, in-home care, etc.), but only after the patient meets certain financial conditions.
