People With Medicare

I Am Getting Nursing Home Care.

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage is not based on where you live, unless you live in a Skilled Nursing Facility. This section tells you what you need to know for all kinds of nursing home care.

If you are living in assisted or adult living, a residential home or retirement community:

These are the same as if you are living at home, unless you are living in a section of the retirement community that qualifies as a Skilled Nursing Facility. You would have to decide if you wanted the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, and if so, to join a plan. The 7 Simple Steps will help you get started.

You may be able to get extra help with your Medicare drug costs if you have limited income and resources. See Extra Help Paying to learn more about this.

If Medicaid is paying both your drugs and health costs, you will find more information about your drug coverage and costs in the section on Medicaid.

If you are in hospice now:

Hospice will keep giving you your services and your drugs.

If you are in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility for less than 100 days:

You are there to recover from an illness or surgery. Usually Medicare Part A will cover your stay and all your drugs. You will need Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage when you return home or if your stay extends beyond 100 days.

If you are in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility for more than 100 days:

The Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage will be very much the same for you as for others. There are only a few differences. We will highlight them in this section.

In This Section:

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