Medicare applies to long-term care in limited circumstances, such as immediately following a hospital stay. Medicare covers short-term, physician-prescribed home health care for skilled nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Medicare does not pay for extended or personal (non-medical) care.
Medicare also covers up to 100 days of nursing home care in limited instances, and it helps cover the cost of some durable medical equipment for home use. It also covers hospice care for people diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less.