I don’t understand the references to Medicaid in so many of the various answers.

Oops! Never mind, sorry. I just checked out the 1st link cwillie listed above & got my answer.

Thanks so much for the info. I appreciate it lots. One more...is there a limit to how much a person’s pension & Social Security comes to that would make the person ineligible or is it available to everyone regardless? Again, that’s for your help!

In a nutshell, Medicaid is a life line out there for elders to use if they run out of funds to pay for their care.

Medicaid is paid for by State taxpayers, and each State also receives some Federal funds to help out. Usually we hear of Medicaid paying in full for a love one to be in a nursing home. Each State has their own programs.

Medicare will not pay for long term health care ... either in-home or in a facility. The only care Medicare will pay for is....hospital, doctor visits, therapist (and only as long as the patient continues to improve). The private insurance...called Medicare supplemental...only pays the portion of the approved bill that Medicare didn't pay. BUT! If Medicare does not approve the medical bill..the private insurance does not either. Again...no long term care.

So..at a cost of 200-300 per day..how does a senior pay for long term care unless they have great wealth? Medicaid.  Or what if the cost of private insurance is beyond the ability of the senior to pay?   Medicaid

Here are a couple of AgingCare articles that may help:

www.agingcare.com/medicare-medicaid

www.agingcare.com/articles/difference-between-medicaid-medicare-142798.htm