Medicare Basics for Family Caregivers: A Simple 2026 Guide

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, and for some younger people with disabilities. The letters can feel confusing, so here is the plain version.

"Original Medicare" means Part A plus Part B together. Many families then add a drug plan (Part D) and a supplement (Medigap). Others choose Part C (Medicare Advantage) instead, which bundles it all into one private plan.

Most people pay nothing for Part A because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working for at least 10 years. Part B has a monthly premium that most people have taken out of their Social Security check.

Here are the standard 2026 amounts. Your parent's costs may be higher if they have a high income, or lower if they qualify for help.

Timing matters. Signing up late can cause penalties that last for life, so it helps to mark these windows on the calendar.

There are three main sign-up windows, plus a yearly window to change plans.

This is the biggest surprise for most families, so it is worth saying clearly: Original Medicare does NOT pay for most long-term care or custodial care.

"Custodial care" means help with daily living, like bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom, or supervision for memory loss, when that is the ONLY care needed. Medicare does not cover a caregiver who comes to help with these tasks, and it does not cover long-term stays in an assisted living or nursing home.

So how do families pay for that kind of help? Common options in Southern California include:

Medicare DOES cover some care at home, but it is short-term and medical, not the same as a full-time caregiver.

Home health care can be covered when a doctor certifies that your parent is "homebound" (leaving home takes real effort or help) and needs skilled care, such as nursing or physical therapy. It is part-time or intermittent, not around-the-clock. Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care at home, meals delivered to the home, or personal care when that is the only help needed.

Hospice is fully covered under Part A for someone with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of about 6 months or less, when they choose comfort care instead of trying to cure the illness. It covers nursing visits, pain and symptom medicines, medical equipment, counseling, and family support, usually at home. Costs to the family are very small. Hospice can continue longer than 6 months if a doctor recertifies that the illness is still terminal.

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you should never have to pay a stranger to "enroll" your parent.

California offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through HICAP (the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program), run by the California Department of Aging. Trained counselors can look at your parent's specific situation, compare plans, and explain the bill, at no cost. Help is available in many languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and more, which is helpful for families whose parent has limited English.

To start, gather your parent's red-white-and-blue Medicare card (or plan card), a list of their doctors, and a list of their medicines. Then reach out for help.