Medicare doesn’t cover geriatric care management, although you can see a geriatric care doctor for an evaluation and be referred to covered screenings and support.
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Geriatric care is a field of medicine designed to meet the unique health needs of older adults.
As part of geriatric care management, healthcare professionals can help you manage chronic conditions more common in older age. This involves coordinating your care with other professionals such as pharmacists, nurses, or social workers.
Read on to learn what Medicare covers and doesn’t cover for geriatric care and geriatric care management.
Original Medicare (parts A and B) does not offer specialized geriatric care management programs. That said, you can see a geriatrician under Medicare Part B and undergo screenings and treatments if deemed medically necessary.
You might consider seeing a geriatrician if you:
- have multiple health conditions or illnesses
- take several medications
- experience challenges with thinking or reduced mobility, or have another disability
Medicare Part B is responsible for covering your medical care. As part of your coverage, you’re entitled to one “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit when you first enroll in Medicare and one annual wellness visit.
You can choose a geriatric care doctor to conduct these screenings. Part B also covers general visits with a doctor. This includes your primary care doctor and a specialist if needed, so long as they accept Medicare.
You can search for participating doctors specializing in geriatric medicine in your area on Medicare.gov.
Does Medicare Advantage cover geriatric care management?
You have the option of signing up for Medicare Advantage (Part C), which is an alternative to Original Medicare (parts A and B).
Part C plans must offer all the same benefits as Original Medicare. This means they won’t cover geriatric care management but will cover all the medical services you would get under Medicare Part B.
At an appointment with a geriatric care doctor, they may conduct various
- Functional assessments evaluate your ability to perform daily tasks like eating, bathing, and managing finances.
- Cognitive assessments identify conditions like dementia and depression.
- Physical exams assess risks for issues that can appear in older age, such as incontinence, osteoporosis, or high blood pressure.
As part of this, your doctor may also perform covered screenings for mental health conditions like depression or a cognitive assessment for dementia. They may also prescribe medication or advise you on managing multiple prescriptions.
Because Medicare doesn’t cover geriatric care management, the doctor won’t coordinate with other healthcare professionals. However, they may still refer you to other covered services, such as:
Typically, a home health agency can also help assess and coordinate your care with your doctor. While this is not geriatric care management, it can still be beneficial if you or your loved one needs ongoing support at home.
However, a home health aide can only help you with daily activities like bathing and dressing. Because Medicare Part B is medical insurance, you can only get home health support if you’re also getting skilled nursing care. Skilled nurses may help you with administering intravenous (IV) medications, checking your blood sugar, or operating tube feedings.
Original Medicare covers skilled nursing care for 8 hours daily or fewer, with a weekly maximum of 28 to 35 hours depending on your specific situation.
Only if you’re eligible for this, can you also be eligible for a part-time home health aide for non-medical tasks. In this case, you can also be eligible for:
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- speech therapy
- social worker visits to address your psychological function
On the other hand, Medicare doesn’t cover around-the-clock home care, meal delivery, or services such as shopping, cleaning, and laundry, or other personal assistance with tasks like bathing, dressing, and bathroom use if these are the only types of support that you need. Some Part C plans may offer additional coverage for these services.
In addition, if you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you may benefit from the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). It offers a similar kind of medical coordination and management.
According to the American Caregiver Association, geriatric care managers typically charge around $100 to $145 per hour. Since Medicare doesn’t cover geriatric care management, you must pay for this out of pocket.
But if you opt to consult a geriatric care doctor as part of a covered screening or appointment, your coverage will fall under Medicare Part B. Certain visits, like the once-yearly wellness visit, are fully covered as long as you pay your monthly premium of $185.
For everything else, after you’ve met the annual Part B deductible of $257, Part B will pay for 80% of any covered treatment or service.
Regarding home care, Part B will provide coverage in most cases.
However, Part A will cover the first 100 days of your home healthcare once you:
- meet the Part A deductible of $1,676 if you’re admitted as a hospital inpatient for at least 3 consecutive days, or
- have a Medicare-covered stay in a skilled nursing facility and as long as you start receiving the services within 14 days of being discharged
In most cases, Part A doesn’t charge a premium. Part B will cover any days beyond the initial 100 days.
When it comes to Part C, your coverage will come from private insurance. This means that your premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance will vary depending on your plan.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the average monthly premium for Part C plans is around $17 in 2025. In addition, to be enrolled in a Part C plan, you still have to pay the Part B premium. That said, some Part C may cover your Part B premium.
Geriatric care is a branch of medicine focused on addressing the specific health needs of older adults.
As part of managing geriatric care, healthcare professionals can assist in handling chronic conditions that are more common in older age. This includes coordinating your care with other experts like pharmacists, nurses, or social workers.
Although Medicare does not cover geriatric care management, you can consult a geriatric care doctor for an assessment and be referred to covered screenings and support.