Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?
Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care (also called “custodial care”), and medicare.gov lists an assisted living facility among the places where people can get non-medical long-term care services. Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility care for a limited time and only if you meet conditions, including, in general, a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row (medicare.gov says observation time doesn’t count, and an approved ACO waiver or a Medicare Advantage Plan may waive the 3-day minimum).
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Long-term care is not covered
Medicare.gov’s long-term care page says:
“Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care”
“Long-term care (also called "custodial care" or "long-term services and support") includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care helps with basic personal tasks of everyday life, sometimes called “activities of daily living.””
“Long-term care is different from skilled nursing facility care. Since most long-term care is non-medical, Medicare and most health insurance, including Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), don’t pay for long-term care services, including care in a nursing home or in the community.”
It names assisted living facilities among the places where this care can be received:
“You can get non-medical long-term care services at home, in the community, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home.”
“You pay all costs for non-covered services, including most long-term care.”
What the rule says about custodial care
The Code of Federal Regulations, 42 CFR 411.15, lists custodial care among the exclusions and defines it by reference to skilled nursing facility care:
“(g) Custodial care, except as necessary for the palliation or management of terminal illness, as provided in part 418 of this chapter. (Custodial care is any care that does not meet the requirements for coverage as SNF care as set forth in §§ 409.31 through 409.35 of this chapter.)”
Skilled nursing facility care Medicare may cover
Medicare.gov says:
“Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers skilled nursing facility care if you’re eligible”
“Medicare covers certain daily SNF services on a short-term basis.”
“Skilled care is nursing and therapy care that can only be safely and effectively performed by, or under the supervision of, professionals or technical personnel. It’s health care given when you need skilled nursing or skilled therapy to treat, manage, and observe your condition, and evaluate your care.”
“Medicare will only cover care you get in a SNF if you first have a “qualifying inpatient hospital stay.” This means a prior medically necessary inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row (starting the day you were admitted as an inpatient, but not including the day you leave the hospital).”
The same page says what does not count toward the 3 days, and when the 3-day minimum may be waived:
“Time you spend at the hospital under observation or in the emergency room before you're admitted doesn't count toward the 3-day qualifying inpatient hospital stay, even if you're there overnight.”
“You may not need a 3-day minimum inpatient hospital stay if your doctor participates in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that's approved for a “Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Waiver.” […] Medicare Advantage Plans may also waive the 3-day minimum inpatient hospital stay.”
It lists the conditions for SNF coverage:
“You must meet all of these conditions:
You have Part A and have days left in your benefit period to use.
You have a qualifying inpatient hospital stay.
You enter the SNF within a short time (generally 30 days) of leaving the hospital.
Your doctor or other health care provider has decided that you need daily skilled care (like intravenous fluids/medications or physical therapy). You must get the care from, or under the supervision of, skilled nursing or therapy staff. […]
You get these skilled services in a Medicare-certified SNF.
You need skilled services for one of these:
An ongoing condition that was also treated during your qualifying inpatient hospital stay (even if it wasn't the reason you were admitted to the hospital).
A new condition that started while you were getting SNF care for the ongoing condition.
You need skilled nursing care or therapy to improve or maintain your current condition, or to prevent or delay it from getting worse.”
2026 skilled nursing facility costs
| Days in a benefit period | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Days 1–20 | $0 a day after the $1,736 deductible |
| Days 21–100 | $217 a day |
| Day 101 and beyond | You pay all costs |
“What you pay for each benefit period in 2026 depends on how long you’re getting skilled nursing facility care:
Days 1–20: You pay $0 each day after you pay the $1,736 deductible. You don’t have to pay the Part A deductible for skilled nursing facility care if you already paid it for care you got in a hospital during the same benefit period.
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may be charged copayments during the first 20 days. Check with your plan for more information.
Days 21–100: You pay $217 each day.
Days 101 and beyond: You pay all costs.
Part A limits SNF coverage to 100 days in each benefit period.”
Hospital-stay amounts and the other 2026 Part A costs are on Medicare Part A: what it covers and 2026 costs.
Hospice care where you live
Medicare.gov’s hospice care page says:
Hospice coverage has its own conditions. Medicare.gov says Part A covers hospice care if you’re eligible, and lists:
“You must have Part A and meet all these conditions:
Your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify that you’re terminally ill (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less).
You accept comfort care (palliative care) instead of care to cure your illness and related conditions.
You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for your terminal illness and related conditions.”
“You can usually get Medicare-approved hospice care in your home or other facility where you live, like an assisted living facility or a nursing home.”
On room and board, it lists among the things Medicare won’t cover once the hospice benefit starts:
“Room and board. Medicare doesn't cover room and board if you get hospice care in your home or if you live in a nursing home or a hospice inpatient facility. If the hospice team determines that you need short-term inpatient or respite care services that they arrange, Medicare will cover your stay in the facility.”
Medicaid
On Medicaid, medicare.gov’s long-term care page says:
“Although you’re not eligible for long-term care under Medicare, you may be eligible for it through Medicaid (if you meet eligibility requirements in your state), or you can choose to buy private long-term care insurance.”
How Medicaid and Medicare fit together is on Medicare vs Medicaid, and help with Medicare costs is on Medicare Savings Programs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
Medicare.gov says Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care, and that you can get non-medical long-term care services at home, in the community, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. It also says you pay all costs for non-covered services, including most long-term care.
What is custodial care?
Medicare.gov says long-term care is also called “custodial care” and includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability, most of which helps with basic personal tasks of everyday life. 42 CFR 411.15(g) defines custodial care as “any care that does not meet the requirements for coverage as SNF care” and excludes it, except as necessary for the palliation or management of terminal illness.
What does Medicare cover in a skilled nursing facility?
Medicare.gov says Part A covers skilled nursing facility care if you’re eligible, on a short-term basis, including a semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing care, physical, occupational and speech-language therapy if needed to meet your health goal, medical social services, medications, and medical supplies and equipment used in the facility.
What conditions apply to Medicare skilled nursing facility coverage?
Medicare.gov says Medicare will only cover care in a skilled nursing facility if you first have a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row, and lists conditions including entering the facility within a short time (generally 30 days) of leaving the hospital and having a doctor or other health care provider decide you need daily skilled care. Medicare.gov also says time spent under observation or in the emergency room before admission doesn't count toward the 3-day stay, and that an approved Accountable Care Organization (ACO) “Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Waiver” or a Medicare Advantage Plan may waive the 3-day minimum.
What is the skilled nursing facility coinsurance in 2026?
Medicare.gov and the CMS 2026 fact sheet give $217 a day for days 21 through 100 of a benefit period in 2026. Medicare.gov says days 1 through 20 are $0 a day after the $1,736 deductible, which is not owed again if it was already paid for hospital care in the same benefit period, and after day 100 you pay all costs.
Does Medicaid help with long-term care?
Medicare.gov says that although you’re not eligible for long-term care under Medicare, you may be eligible for it through Medicaid (if you meet eligibility requirements in your state), or you can choose to buy private long-term care insurance.
Does Medicare cover hospice care in an assisted living facility?
Medicare.gov says Part A covers hospice care if you’re eligible: you must have Part A, your hospice doctor and regular doctor (if you have one) must certify that you’re terminally ill (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less), you accept comfort care instead of care to cure your illness, and you sign a statement choosing hospice care. It says you can usually get Medicare-approved hospice care in your home or other facility where you live, like an assisted living facility or a nursing home, and that Medicare doesn't cover room and board if you get hospice care in your home or if you live in a nursing home or a hospice inpatient facility. If the hospice team determines that you need short-term inpatient or respite care services that they arrange, Medicare will cover your stay in the facility.
Related Medicare pages
- Medicare Part A: What It Covers and What It Costs in 2026
- Does Medicare Cover Dental Care?
- Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
- Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?
- Medicare vs Medicaid
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Medicare open enrollment
- Medicare Part B premium and deductible history
- Medicare Part D
- Medicare late enrollment penalty calculator
- IRMAA brackets
Sources
All retrieved November 2, 2026. Quotes are verbatim; “[…]” marks every omission.
- Medicare.gov: Dental services
- Medicare.gov: Hearing aids
- Medicare.gov: Hearing & balance exams
- Medicare.gov: Cataract surgery
- Medicare.gov: Eyeglasses & contact lenses
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care
- Medicare.gov: Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care
- Medicare.gov: Hospice care
- Medicare.gov: Inpatient hospital care
- Medicare.gov: What Part A covers
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, Nov. 14, 2025)
- 42 CFR 411.15 (eCFR)
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook (medicare.gov)