Paying for care
Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care. Medicaid, VA benefits, long-term care insurance and private pay do, depending on the person and the state. These guides explain each route with federal sources and dated figures.
Part-time skilled care at home after a doctor orders it
Medicare, if the home health rules are met
What Medicare pays forDaily help with bathing, dressing and meals (custodial care)
Not Medicare. Medicaid in some states, VA benefits, long-term care insurance or private pay
Medicaid and long-term careNursing home or assisted living
Medicare covers only a short skilled stay. Medicaid, VA, insurance or private pay cover the rest, depending on the state and the person
Medicare vs MedicaidA family member who wants to be paid to provide care
Some state Medicaid programs and two VA programs
Get paid to care for familyMedicaid rules are set by each state. Carevo does not decide what you qualify for. Ask the program or your state Medicaid agency.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care accessed October 27, 2026
- Medicaid.gov: Long-term services and supports accessed October 27, 2026
What Medicare pays for in care, and what it does not
Medicare pays for skilled care at home, in a skilled nursing facility and in hospice when a doctor orders it. It does not pay for long-term custodial care or 24-hour care at home.
Read moreMedicaid and long-term care: eligibility, coverage and the look-back
Medicaid is the main payer for long-term care in the US. Each state runs its own program and sets its own limits, so what you qualify for depends on where you live.
Read moreMedicare vs Medicaid: the difference, and what each pays for in care
Medicare is federal health insurance, mainly for people 65 and older. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program for people with low income, and it is the main payer for long-term care.
Read moreVA help paying for care: pension, Aid and Attendance and caregiver programs
Veterans and survivors may get help with care costs through VA pension with Aid and Attendance or Housebound, VA long-term care services and VA caregiver programs.
Read moreLong-term care insurance: what policies cover and how a claim starts
Long-term care insurance helps pay for care that health insurance and Medicare usually do not. What it pays depends on the policy: benefit triggers, the elimination period and the daily benefit.
Read morePaying privately for home care: what drives the cost and what to ask
Most non-medical home care is paid privately because Medicare does not cover custodial care. Here is what changes the cost, what a wage figure does and does not tell you, and what to ask an agency.
Read more