How much does long-term care cost?

Typical costs in 2025

These are national median costs from the Genworth / CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, the long-running industry standard. Prices in high-cost states and cities can run far higher.

Source: Genworth / CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, national medians. Costs vary significantly by state and metro area.

What drives the cost

• The type of care. Skilled nursing costs more than personal (custodial) care.
• The setting. Care at home for a few hours a day can cost less than a facility — but round-the-clock home care can cost more than a nursing home.
• How much care you need. More hours, or 24-hour care, raises the cost quickly.
• Where you live. Rates differ widely from state to state and city to city.

Who pays for long-term care?

People pay for long-term care in a few main ways:

• Personal savings and assets. Most families pay part or all of the cost from their own funds — savings, investments, or by selling assets such as a home.
• Long-term care insurance. A policy can cover much of the cost so you don't have to spend down your savings.
• Medicaid — for those who qualify financially, after assets are largely spent down.

A common and costly misunderstanding: Medicare, Medicare supplement (Medigap), and the health insurance you may have at work generally do not pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare covers only limited, short-term skilled care after a hospital stay — not the ongoing help with daily living that most people end up needing.