Final answer:
Medicare typically focuses on primary medical needs and does not usually cover community nursing care, which may instead be covered by Medicaid depending on individual eligibility and the specific state's coverage policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Community nursing care is often not covered under Medicare, which is the federal program that provides health coverage to individuals who are 65 years and older, covering around 40 million people. Medicare focuses primarily on medical needs, such as hospital stays, physician fees, and diagnostic services. However, Medicaid, another program created in 1965, may cover community nursing care costs. Medicaid offers health care coverage for approximately fifty million poor and disabled Americans, more than a third of whom are over age 65. The federal government pays about half of the costs of medical care for those under Medicaid, with the state covering the remainder. Given that Medicaid eligibility and benefits can vary significantly across states, a person may qualify for community nursing care coverage in one state but not in another. Therefore, it's crucial to check with your state's Medicaid program to understand the specifics of nursing care coverage.