What do you need to know about Medicare coverage and enrollment when it comes to long-term care? At some point in your life, you may need long-term care. Knowing that you are covered if you need long-term care, or daily care, is important.  

Original Medicare and Long-Term Care

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) includes coverage for inpatient hospital care, medically necessary care, and preventative care, but not for many types of long-term care or daily in-home care, as it is considered “custodial care” and not “medical care.” 

Medicare Advantage and Long-Term Care

Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by private insurance companies, include the same coverage as Original Medicare and often provide additional benefits as well, such as dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage.  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) carefully regulate which benefits Medicare Advantage plans can offer. CMS recently expanded the permissions for benefits related to long-term care and in-home care. Carriers are still adding these new benefits to their Medicare Advantage plans, and available benefits vary based on the plans in your area.  

Some benefits include:  

• Home helpers/ in-home support  
• Transportation  
• Meal delivery
• Safety/assistive devices  
• Day center visits 
• Fitness membership 

Enrollment Eligibility

e-TeleQuote Insurance Inc. (“e-TeleQuote”) does business as easyMed Insurance Services in all states other than New Mexico. e-TeleQuote is a duly licensed insurance agency appointed by Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS plans and stand-alone prescription drug plans and insurance companies holding Medicare contracts approved by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). e-TeleQuote is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. Enrollment in any plan for coverage is subject to insurance company approval. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. By using e-TeleQuote’s easyMedicare website, you understand and agree that in New Mexico, we operate as e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. (Your IP address and/or location coordinates may be gathered to verify your location.) Sales agents may be compensated based on your enrollment in a health plan. Medicare Supplement plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare program. e-TeleQuote complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. easyMedicare.com is a non-government site, powered by e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. e-TeleQuote provides a secure way to purchase Medicare insurance from the comfort of your home or workplace. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours day/7 days a week, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply. To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1- 877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week). If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance.