Medicare Part A will only cover nursing home care for short stays of 100 days or less if you require care to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs), and only after an in-patient hospital stay of three or more days. The benefit is payable for up to 100 days per benefit period, requiring a daily copay after the 20th day. Medicare Part B can cover medically necessary long-term services like physical therapy or part-time skilled nursing care. You cannot depend on Medicare to cover most of your needs like you can with long-term care insurance if you require nursing home care.