Does Medicare Cover Assisted Living in California?
At some point in our lives, most of us will need some type of long-term care services. If you are not able to arrange these services at home, there are facilities that accommodate people with long-term care needs. Examples are a skilled nursing facility (SNF), a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) and an assisted living arrangement.
Medicare Benefits Solutions
Apr 8, 2021
3 minutes read
Varied levels of care
Skilled nursing facilities are synonymous with nursing homes. SNFs offer comprehensive health and personal care support. The focus is on medical care. It usually includes nursing services, 24-hour supervision, all meals and help with daily activities. SNFs are equipped to provide housing on a permanent or temporary basis.
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Medicare benefits for long-term care
Medicare does not cover long-term services. Also known as custodial care, long-term care includes non-medical services and non-skilled assistance, such as help with dressing, bathing and meals. However, under Part A, Medicare benefits include short-term care in an SNF under certain conditions. If you have been an inpatient in a hospital for at least three days, you may qualify for medically necessary SNF coverage for a related illness or injury. Benefits are covered for up to 100 days.
Medi-Cal
If you are a California resident covered by Medicaid, your benefits would fall under Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal covers long-term nursing home care. Additionally, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) introduced an Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) Program. The program is designed to enable Medi-Cal recipients to stay in their communities as an alternative to long-term placement in a nursing home. Benefits are geared toward eligible seniors and people with disabilities.
ALW began as a pilot program in 2009 and was renewed in 2014. In September 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) authorized COVID-19 hotspot enrollment. This is a temporary measure to expedite your ALW application if you reside in an SNF situated in an area with one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates.
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