When looking at medical vs. custodial care, there are some differences that are important to discuss regarding the implications of the distinctions between the two. The biggest implication is that Medicare pays for medical care, but does not pay for custodial care. This matters a lot for people who find themselves needing custodial care in a nursing home.
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Southern Illinois Elder Law Attorney, discusses medical vs. custodial care, explains the differences between the two and offers why these distinctions matter.
Medical vs. Custodial Care: What’s the difference and why it matters
Transcript:
Hi, I’m Wes Coulson and this is your Elder Law Minute. I want to talk to you today about the difference between medical care and custodial care and the important implications of the distinctions between the two.
Medical care is the type of care that you would receive basically in a doctor’s office or in a hospital. Sometime in a nursing home, but only initially during a period of rehab, generally physical, occupational or speech therapy.
Custodial care is the type of care that means somebody is helping take care of you, helping you do things that you can’t do yourself. That’s going to be provided in either a home care setting or in a facility, and that could be an assisted living, a memory care facility or a nursing home.
Here’s the big difference: Medicare pays for medical care, but it doesn’t pay for custodial care.
So, you’re not going to get help from Medicare, for instance for a nursing home or an assisted living stay. Medicaid does pay for custodial care in a nursing home, and a little bit in some other settings that’ll be a subject for a different day. Thanks.
For more information on Medicare and Long-Term Care, visit these articles
- The Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid
- 4 Myths about Medicare & Medicaid Long-Term Care Coverage
- When it comes to Long Term Care – When you run out of money, you run out of options
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