Does Medicare pay for assisted living in Alabama?
No. Medicare does not pay rent, meals or personal care in assisted living or a SCALF; it pays for medical services a resident receives there, such as doctor visits, prescriptions under Part D, home health visits and hospice.
That is true for Original Medicare and in general for Medicare Advantage plans, although some Advantage plans add small supplemental benefits. Check any plan's evidence of coverage before counting on it.
How much nursing home care does Medicare cover?
Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three days, when daily skilled care is needed; the first 20 days are covered in full and days 21 to 100 carry a daily coinsurance.
Coverage ends sooner when the resident stops needing daily skilled care. Watch for “observation status” in the hospital, which does not count toward the three inpatient days. Our hospital discharge guide explains how to ask.
Does Medicare pay for home health and hospice in Birmingham?
Yes: Medicare covers part-time skilled home health for homebound beneficiaries under a doctor's plan of care, and hospice for people with a terminal prognosis of six months or less who choose comfort care, at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home.
ADPH's directory lists 32 home health agencies and 35 hospice providers based in the seven Birmingham-area counties; agencies based elsewhere may also serve the area. See the home health and hospice rosters.
Can Alabama Medicaid help pay Medicare premiums?
Yes. Alabama's Medicare Savings Programs pay the Part B premium, and for QMB also Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, for people under the income limits effective February 2026, with no resource limit.
| Program (effective February 2026) | Individual income limit | Couple income limit |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (pays Part B premium and Medicare cost-sharing) | $1,350 | $1,824 |
| SLMB (pays Part B premium) | $1,616 | $2,184 |
| QI-1 (pays Part B premium) | $1,816 | $2,455 |
A parent paying privately for assisted living may still qualify for a Medicare Savings Program if income is low enough, which frees up money each month. SHIP counselors at the area agencies on aging help with the application at no cost.
At a glance
| Medicare pays for | Medicare does not pay for | |
|---|---|---|
| Rehab | Up to 100 skilled nursing days after a 3-day inpatient stay | Long-term custodial nursing home care |
| Home | Skilled home health for homebound patients | Ongoing non-medical home care |
| End of life | Hospice wherever the person lives | Room and board in a facility |
| Assisted living | Medical services delivered there | Rent, meals or personal care |
Sources: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (Alabama release, March 2, 2026); Alabama Medicaid Agency 2026 income limits; Ala. Admin. Code chapter 560-X-25; Alabama Department of Senior Services; VA pension rate tables. See our editorial standards.
