Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?

Medicare does not pay for assisted living, so most people pay the full cost themselves, the National Institute on Aging says. Medicare still pays for your medical care there, the same as at home. That's hard news if living alone isn't safe anymore, but Medicaid may help with the care in some states.

Medicare still pays if

• You see a doctor, get lab tests or go to the hospital.
• Leaving home is hard and you need a nurse or therapist for a while. Home health can come to you in assisted living, and you pay nothing for it.
• You have drug coverage (Part D), and in 2026 you pay no more than $2,100 for covered drugs all year.
• You choose hospice, and the team comes to you there, though Medicare still doesn't pay the rent.

Not sure Medicare will pay? Ask anyway, because your doctor orders the care and Medicare's rules decide what it pays. A Pair Team advocate can sort out what is covered with you in one call.

Who pays for what in assisted living

The $283 is the deductible for Part B, which pays for doctor visits.

Does Medicare pay for a nursing home instead?

Medicare pays for a nursing home only for a short stay. You must have been a hospital inpatient for 3 days in a row and need skilled care every day. Then Medicare pays for up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility. Days 1 to 20 cost $0, and days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day in 2026. See what Medicare covers after a hospital stay.

Medicare doesn't pay for a long nursing home stay for daily care, because that's long-term care. Medicaid may pay if you qualify.

The difference is how much care you need. A nursing home gives nursing care every day, and assisted living is for people who need less help with daily care.

Can Medicaid pay for assisted living?

Medicaid can pay for personal care in assisted living through a waiver program in some states, but not rent and meals.

A waiver can cap how many people it serves, so there may be a waitlist. In California, 15,910 people were waiting in March 2026. You usually must need the kind of care a nursing home gives, and meet your state's Medicaid income and savings limits. See having Medicare and Medicaid together.

What is PACE?

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a Medicare and Medicaid program. It's for people 55 and older who need nursing home level care. You must be able to live safely outside a nursing home with its help. One team handles your doctors, home care, rides and a day center. With Medicaid, there's no monthly cost. If you're in assisted living, ask a nearby PACE program if it can serve you.

Other ways to pay

• Long-term care insurance: Some policies pay part of the cost, so read yours or call the company.
• Veterans benefits: Aid and Attendance adds money to a VA pension if you need help with daily tasks. You can put it toward assisted living.

How to check an assisted living home

1. Look up the license. Your state licenses these homes, so ask the licensing office for the home's recent inspection reports.
2. Call the long-term care ombudsman. Every state must have one, federal law says, and they take complaints about assisted living. The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can connect you.
3. Visit more than once. Go at mealtime, and ask what the base price covers and what costs extra, like help with medicines.
4. Ask what happens if your needs grow. Ask, "When would you make me leave, and do you take Medicaid?"
5. Read the contract before you sign. Have a family member read it too, so you both know the terms.

What a Pair Team advocate does

Most families call us about assisted living after a fall or a hospital stay. The first question is money. The second is whether Mom can stay home a while longer with more help. This is what we do:

• Set up home health or hospice in assisted living when a doctor orders it.
• Help you apply for Medicaid or a waiver, and follow up until there is an answer.
• Help with what usually comes with it: paid help at home, a walker or shower chair, rides and bills.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Does Medigap pay for assisted living?

No, Medigap does not pay for assisted living or other long-term care, at home or in a facility, Medicare.gov says. Long-term care insurance, or Medicaid in some states, may help instead, so ask your Medicaid office.

Does Medicare pay for memory care?

Medicare does not pay the rent or daily care in memory care, which is assisted living for people with dementia. It does pay for doctor visits and hospice. See Medicare and dementia care.

Can I keep my own doctor in assisted living?

Yes, you can keep your own doctor with Original Medicare, if the doctor takes Medicare. In a Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to use the plan's doctors. See how to find a doctor who takes Medicare.

Does SSI help pay for assisted living?

SSI can help pay for assisted living in some states. California, New York and Nevada pay a higher SSI amount to people who live in a licensed care home. See SSI for people 65 and older.

Can an assisted living home make me leave?

An assisted living home can't make you leave except for reasons your state allows, and it must follow your state's steps first. If you get a notice, call your long-term care ombudsman right away.

Find the rules for your state

• California: California's Medicaid Assisted Living Waiver pays for care in 15 counties, with a long waitlist.
• New York: Medicaid's Assisted Living Program pays for care in certain adult homes, and SSI helps with rent and meals.
• Nevada: a Medicaid waiver pays for your care in a licensed assisted living or group home, but not rent and meals.

Everyone else can call their State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 1-877-839-2675 (shiphelp.org) or state Medicaid office.

Sources

• Long-term care, Medicare.gov
• Home health services, Medicare.gov
• Hospice care, Medicare.gov
• Skilled nursing facility care, Medicare.gov
• PACE, Medicare.gov
• Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7, Home Health Services, CMS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS
• Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care, National Institute on Aging
• Assisted Living Waiver Enrollment and Waitlist, January 2019 through March 2026, DHCS
• Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance, VA
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Administration for Community Living
• Eldercare Locator, Administration for Community Living
• CareScout Releases 2025 Cost of Care Survey Results, Genworth
• Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?, National Council on Aging