Albany Senior AdvisorDoes Medicare pay for assisted living?
No: Medicare pays medical costs for residents but not rent or personal care.
Long-term care insurance, VA pension, savings and, in ALP beds, Medicaid fill the gap.
How long does Medicare pay for rehab after a hospital stay?
Up to 100 days per benefit period after a three-midnight inpatient stay, while daily skilled care is needed.
Days 21 through 100 carry a daily coinsurance.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Only intermittent skilled home health for homebound patients; not hourly aides.
Agencies with Capital Region office addresses on the state roster include 5 certified home health agencies, 60 licensed home care services agencies and 2 hospice licenses; many serve several counties, so ask each one whether it covers your parent's town.
How much is VA Aid and Attendance in 2026?
Up to $29,093 a year for a veteran with no dependents and $18,697 for a surviving spouse, through November 30, 2026.
| Household | Maximum annual pension | Roughly 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.
Where can Albany-area seniors get Medicare counseling?
From HIICAP through the county Office for the Aging, free and unbiased.
Book before fall open enrollment.
Who helps veterans apply for Aid and Attendance?
Accredited veterans service officers, including county veterans service agencies, help for free.
Never pay a fee to file an initial pension claim.
Do Medicare Advantage plans cover more long-term care?
Some Medicare Advantage plans add limited extras such as in-home support hours or meals after a hospital stay, but none pays for ongoing custodial care or assisted living rent.
HIICAP counselors can compare the plans offered in your county each fall.
Side by side
| Medicare and the VA cover | Medicare and the VA do not cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Rehab | Up to 100 days after a qualifying stay | Long-term custody |
| Home | Skilled home health | Hourly aides (Medicare) |
| Pension | A&A to eligible veterans and spouses | Payments to facilities |
Every answer here comes from New York law or regulation, a Department of Health publication, CMS, the VA, a county Office for the Aging or CareScout's 2025 cost survey. When a figure changes, we update the answer together with the reference page it links to, and where no published number exists we say so rather than estimate.
