Does TRICARE cover nursing home care?

Direct answer: No, not custodial nursing home or assisted-living care — but TRICARE does cover skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, which is a different, medically-focused benefit with its own eligibility rules.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Details

To qualify for SNF coverage, you must have been hospitalized for at least three consecutive days (not counting discharge day) and enter the skilled nursing facility within 30 days of that hospital discharge, and the care must be for recovery from an illness or injury, not a chronic condition. There’s no fixed day limit as long as care stays medically necessary, but TRICARE For Life beneficiaries follow Medicare’s rules and need TRICARE For Life approval for stays beyond 100 days. Ordinary custodial care — help with daily activities rather than active medical treatment — is never covered by either benefit.

What to do next

Confirm this with your Primary Care Manager or regional contractor before scheduling — rules can vary by region and by service.