Medicare Coverage for Alzheimer’s Disease

While some Alzheimer’s care has coverage, not all care is available through Medicare. For example, a Long Term Care facility is never covered by Medicare. Also, Skilled Nursing care is only covered under specific circumstances and never for a long length of time. Now, Medicare does cover medical care that helps Alzheimer’s patients; such as testing, screening, and care planning.

Whether you have dementia or Alzheimer’s you can expect coverage to be available. Medicare does cover Alzheimer’s testing. A doctor will run various tests before an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Often, these tests require visits to the neurologist, neuropsychologist, and geriatricians. Testing can include physical examination as well as laboratory tests.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit includes screening for cognitive impairment to identify if you have any memory illnesses. During the screening, your doctor may talk to you about your life and any possible concerns. Your doctor can discuss screening results, prescribe medications, recommend resources to help you plan for the future, and refer you to a specialist.

Medicare pays the full cost of Alzheimer’s screening as a preventive service.

Medicare covers care planning for those with a cognitive impairment diagnosis. But, it won’t cover long-term respite care. For many, a care plan includes Long term care, skilled Nursing, Visiting Angels, or even a home safety assessment. Designing a proper can plan can be a challenge since there is no one size fits all. Some people have unique family situations and different stages require various levels of care. You should include a caregiver to help support you and learn about things that contribute to a better quality of life.

Medicare covers up to 100 days in a nursing home if you need temporary skilled nursing care after spending at least three days in the hospital. But, Medicare charges a daily copay after the 20th day. Also, Medicare won’t pay for long-term custodial care in a nursing home.

Medicare Advantage plans must cover at least as good as Medicare. Some plans will offer benefits beyond what Medicare covers; such as Long Term Care, house cleaning services, and telehealth. But, not all plans in every location offer these services. Some areas have few options for Part C, while other areas provide you with a plethora of options.