Medicaid for Seniors: Long-Term Care Coverage

Medicaid covers long-term care (nursing homes, assisted living, home health care) for seniors and people with disabilities who meet financial eligibility requirements.

This is one of Medicaid's most valuable but least understood benefits — nursing home care costs $8,000–$12,000/month, and Medicare only covers short-term skilled nursing care.

To qualify for long-term care Medicaid, income and asset limits are strict (typically $2,000 in assets for an individual). Medicaid planning — legally restructuring assets to qualify — is a specialized area of elder law. Consult an elder law attorney before spending down assets..