Medicaid and Medicare can support some of the costs of Alzheimer’s care in an assisted living facility.

Medicare

Anyone over the age of 65 qualifies for Medicare, which includes inpatient hospital care, some medical fees and some medical items. Medicare Part D covers a large number of prescription drugs. For those who need in-home care, Medicare can pay for up to 100 days, but it doesn’t pay for long-term nursing home care.

In addition, Medicare pays for an annual wellness visit.

Where many people paying for Alzheimer’s care can benefit is with a cognitive assessment and care plan service. Essentially, this is a resource that lets the recipient and their caregivers learn about various treatments, both medical and non-medical, and other forms of support.

Medicare Advantage

There are types of Medicare Advantage Plans that cater to those with dementia. These are called Special Needs Plans. This form of financial assistance typically applies to those who have a chronic condition (dementia, in this case), and it may require both Medicare (Part A and Part B) and Medicaid coverage or require nursing care, whether in a community or at home. These plans also typically cover a specific area, which means that seniors need to live in the plan’s service area.

These plans must cover everything that original Medicare covers, and they usually offer extra services focused on dementia. In addition, there is often a fixed deductible, beyond which the plan fully covers all approved costs. However, these plans usually cost more than original Medicare, although compared to the combined cost of Medicare premiums, a Medigap policy and a Part D prescription drug plan, they can be cost effective.

Medicaid

Those with a low income and few assets may qualify for Medicaid, depending on their financial circumstances and the state they live in. In many cases, Medicaid covers nursing care, medication management, case management, some assessments and medical exams. It does not usually pay for the base cost of assisted living in a memory care community.