An important part of planning for long-term care is deciding how to pay for services.

This is because long-term care is very expensive, and contrary to what many people believe, their Medicare coverage will not pay for most of the long-term care services they need. While some people may qualify for Medicaid -- the major payer of long-term care services, most people won't. There are other federal public programs, such as the Older Americans Act, or state funded programs, that pay some long-term care services, but like Medicaid they target those people with the most functional and financial need. Consequently, if you are one of the 70% of people over the age of 65 who will need long-term care services -- there's a very good chance you will have to pay for some or all of your long-term care services out of your personal income and resources.

Paying for long-term care out of your personal income and resources can be challenging. Even if you have a modest need for assistance at home with personal care, say a visit from a home health aide 3 times a week, based on 2008 average costs, you would have to pay about $18,000 a year for those services.

To make the best decisions about how to pay for long-term care you need to understand what services cost, what public programs you are eligible for and what they cover, what private financing options are available, and which ones work best for you.

What Does Long-Term Care Cost?  

LTC includes a broad range of health and support services that people need as they age or if they are disabled. The majority of these services are personal care, or assistance with activities of daily living that many families are able to provide all, or some of, free. But, as care and support needs increase, paid care is usually needed to supplement family provided services and supports, provide respite to family caregivers, or to pay for more extensive services in a facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living, when individuals can no longer be cared for in their homes.

There are variations in costs based on the type and amount of care you need, the provider you use, and where you live. Home health and home care services, provided in two-to-four-hour blocks of time referred to as "visits," are generally more expensive in the evening, or on weekends or holidays. The costs of services in some community programs, such as adult day service programs, are often provided at a per-day rate, but vary based on overhead and programming costs. Many care facilities charge extra for services provided beyond the basic room-and-board charge, although some may have "all inclusive" fees. 

The average costs in the United States (in 2008) are:

• $187/day for a semi-private room in a nursing home
• $209/day for a private room in a nursing home
• $3,008/month for care in an Assisted Living Facility (for a one-bedroom unit)
• $29/hour for a Home Health Aide
• $18/hour for a Homemaker services
• $59/day for care in an Adult Day Health Care Center

What Does Care Cost Where I Live?

To view an interactive map to compare your state or region's median cost of long-term care to other areas in the country, click here

Who Pays for Long-Term Care?  

If you have sufficient income and assets, you are likely to pay for your long-term care needs on your own, out of those private resources.  If you meet functional eligibility criteria and have limited financial resources, or deplete them paying for care, Medicaid may pay for your care.  If you require primarily skilled or recuperative care for a short time, Medicare may pay.  The Older Americans Act is another Federal program that helps pay for long-term care services.  Some people use a variety of payment sources as their care needs and financial circumstances change.

Long-Term Care Service	Medicare	Private Medigap Insurance	Medicaid	You Pay on Your Own*
Nursing Home Care	Pays in full for days 0-20 if you are in a Skilled Nursing Facility following a recent hospital stay. If your need for skilled care continues, may pay for the difference between your co-payment of $133.50/day for days 21-100. After day 100 does not pay.	May cover the $133.50/day co-payment if your nursing home stay meets all other Medicare requirements.	May pay for care in a Medicaid-certified nursing home if you meet functional and financial eligibility criteria.	If you need only personal or supervisory care in a nursing home and/or have not had a prior hospital stay, or if you choose a nursing home that does not participate in Medicaid or is not Medicare-certified.
Assisted Living Facility (and similar facility options)	Does not pay	Does not pay	In some states, may pay care-related costs, but not room and board	You pay on your own except as noted under Medicaid if eligible.
Continuing Care Retirement Community	Does not pay	Does not pay	Does not pay	You pay on your own
Adult Day Services	Not covered	Not Covered	Varies by state, financial and functional eligibility required	You pay on your own [except as noted under Medicaid if eligible.]
Home Health Care	Limited to reasonable, necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care and home health aide services, and some therapies that are ordered by your doctor and provided by Medicare-certified home health agency. Does not pay for on-going personal care or custodial care needs only (help with activities of daily living).	Not covered	Pay for, but states have option to limit some services, such as therapy	You pay on your own for personal or custodial care, except as noted under Medicaid, if you are eligible

National Spending on Long-Term Care

The total amount spent on long-term care services in the United States (in 2005) was $206.6 billion.  This does not include care provided by family or friends on an unpaid basis (often called "informal care.")  It only includes the costs of care from a paid provider.

While most information on "who pays for long-term care" presents these national figures, it is important to remember that each person's individual experience will differ. These figures combine the experiences of everyone receiving paid care, but there are significant variations from person to person.

On an aggregate basis, the biggest share, 49 percent, is paid for by Medicaid.  On an individual basis, however, "who pays for long-term care" can look very different. This is because people with their own personal financial resources do not qualify for Medicaid unless they use up their resources first paying for care, so-called "spending down".  If you have reasonable income and assets, most likely you will be paying for care on your own. 

Also, while Medicare overall pays for 20 percent of long-term care, it only pays under specific circumstances.  If the type of care you need does not meet Medicare's rules, Medicare will not pay and you are likely to pay for your care on your own.

Learning more about the "rules" for when Medicare, Medicaid, other public programs or private insurance might pay for long-term care is an important part of understanding "who will pay" if and when you need care.