Guide
Paying for care without wrecking your retirement
What Medicare and Medicaid really cover, and how to protect your own future while you help.
Updated
Expert review: reviewer not yet confirmed
Chapter 1
Does Medicare pay for help at home?
Medicare may cover eligible skilled home health services. Part-time or intermittent aide care may be included when the person also qualifies for skilled services. Medicare generally does not cover personal care when that is the only help needed.
Chapter 2
When can Medicaid help pay for care?
Medicaid can pay for long-term care for people with limited income and assets. Rules vary by state, so talk to an elder law attorney or your state's office.
Chapter 3
How do I check long-term care insurance?
Policies vary widely in what triggers benefits and what they pay. Find the policy, read the benefit triggers and call the insurer early.
Chapter 4
Can we pay a family member for caregiving?
Paying a relative can be fair and practical. A simple written agreement keeps it clear for siblings and for any future benefits review.
Chapter 5
Are there tax breaks for caregivers?
Some caregiving costs and dependents may qualify for tax breaks. A tax professional can tell you what applies to your family.
Chapter 6
How do I protect my own retirement?
Helping a parent should not empty the account you will need later. Set a monthly limit you can sustain and revisit it each year.
Questions people ask
Part-time or intermittent aide care may be covered when the person also qualifies for covered skilled home health services. Personal care alone is generally not covered. Check eligibility with Medicare and the care provider.
Sources
For information only. Not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to a professional about your family's situation.
Related family stories
Tools for this guide
Squeeze Score
Four sliders and one honest number for how stretched you are this week.
Sibling Load Balancer
See who is carrying how much of the care, and what to share.
Parent Info Sheet
A one page sheet of doctors, medications and contacts. Print it or copy it. Stays in your browser.
Care Cost Calculator
Turn your own local quotes into weekly, monthly and yearly costs, and see the budget gap.
Know when this guide changes
Rules and benefits change. We'll tell you when a guide gets an important update.