Columbia Senior AdvisorDoes Medicare cover assisted living?
No. Medicare does not pay rent, meals or personal care in assisted living; it covers medical services a resident receives there, such as doctor visits, home health and hospice.
Assisted living is paid privately or through OSS, Community Choices, VA pension or long-term care insurance.
What is the three-day rule for Medicare nursing home coverage?
Medicare pays for skilled nursing facility care only after an inpatient hospital stay of at least three days; days under observation status do not count.
Ask the hospital in writing whether your parent is admitted or under observation.
How many days of rehab does Medicare cover?
Up to 100 days per benefit period: days 1 to 20 with no cost and days 21 to 100 with a daily coinsurance, only while daily skilled care is needed.
Coverage often ends sooner when therapy progress plateaus.
What is the 2026 Medicaid income limit for nursing home care in South Carolina?
$2,982 a month, 300% of the $994 SSI federal benefit rate, with a $2,000 countable resource limit for one person; income above the cap can be placed in a qualified income trust.
Medicaid also reviews 60 months of asset transfers.
How much is VA Aid and Attendance in 2026?
Under rates effective December 1, 2025, a veteran with no dependents who qualifies for Aid and Attendance can receive up to $29,093 a year, a veteran with one dependent up to $34,488 and a surviving spouse up to $18,697.
| Who | Maximum per year | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran with no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 | $2,424 |
| Veteran with one dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 | $2,874 |
| Two veterans married to each other, both A&A | $46,143 | $3,845 |
| Surviving spouse, no dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 | $1,558 |
| Veteran with no dependents, Housebound | $21,313 | $1,776 |
VA pension rates in effect December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026.
Is there a veterans nursing home in Columbia?
Yes. The Stone and Fewell Veterans Pavilions on the C.M. Tucker campus in Columbia are operated by the S.C. Department of Veterans' Affairs and hold a DPH nursing home license for 135 beds.
The Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia is the region's VA hospital; county veterans affairs offices help with applications.
Where can I get unbiased Medicare advice in the Midlands?
From SHIP counselors at the regional Area Agency on Aging, such as Central Midlands Council of Governments at (803) 376-5390, who explain Medicare options without selling anything.
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year.
