{"id":344,"title":"Nursing Home Costs in US: Age-Based Breakdown and Key Factors","slug":"nursing-home-costs-age-based-breakdown-and-key-factors-in-us","lang":"en","description":"Explore the latest insights into nursing home costs, with age-based breakdowns and factors influencing expenses. Learn how location, care level, and insurance impact affordability, and discover actionable strategies for planning long-term care.","content":"

Understanding Nursing Home Costs

Nursing home care represents one of the most significant expenses for older adults in the United States. With the aging population growing rapidly, more families are confronting the reality of long-term care planning. In 2024, the national annual median cost for a semi-private room in a skilled nursing facility reached $111,325, while a private room cost $127,750 [1]. These figures reflect a 7% and 9% increase from the previous year, respectively, and are expected to continue rising as demand outpaces supply. Regional differences are stark, with costs ranging from $5,639 per month in Texas to $31,282 per month in Alaska [1], [2]. It is crucial to understand these costs and the factors influencing them when planning for future care needs.

Costs for Ages 50–60

While most nursing home residents are over age 65, some individuals between 50 and 60 may require skilled nursing care due to chronic illness, disability, or rehabilitation needs. Costs do not vary significantly by age but by care requirements and location. For this age group, the average annual cost for a semi-private room remains at $111,325, with private rooms costing $127,750 [1], [2]. Medicaid may be available for those who meet eligibility criteria, but private pay is common for individuals under 65. Early-onset conditions such as multiple sclerosis or traumatic injury can necessitate long-term care, and younger residents sometimes face higher costs due to specialized services and longer expected stays. Planning for long-term care insurance before age 60 can help offset future costs, with premiums for single men ranging from $900 to $1,700 annually and $1,500 to $2,700 for single women for policies offering $165,000 in benefits [1].

Costs for Ages 60–70

Individuals in the 60–70 age bracket are increasingly likely to require nursing home care, especially as chronic health conditions become more prevalent. The costs for nursing home care remain consistent with national averages: $111,325 annually for semi-private rooms and $127,750 for private rooms [1], [3]. Most individuals in this age group will rely on Medicare for short-term rehabilitation but must transition to Medicaid or private pay for extended stays. Medicare covers 100% of costs for the first 20 days, then partial coverage up to 100 days, after which residents are responsible for the full cost [2]. Long-term care insurance is most effective when purchased before health issues arise. Those without coverage must prepare for substantial out-of-pocket expenses, especially in high-cost regions.

Costs for Ages 70–80

The need for nursing home care increases significantly between ages 70 and 80. Women, in particular, require care for an average of 3.7 years, compared to 2.2 years for men [1]. The annual costs remain at $111,325 for semi-private rooms and $127,750 for private rooms, with regional variations [1], [3]. At this stage, many residents transition from assisted living (median cost $5,190 per month nationally [4]) to nursing homes as medical needs intensify. Medicaid becomes the primary payer for most residents, but eligibility is based on income and assets. Families should consult state Medicaid offices for guidance on the application process and coverage details.

Costs for Ages 80 and Above

Individuals over age 80 are the largest demographic in nursing homes, often requiring the highest level of care. The costs remain consistent with national averages: $111,325 annually for semi-private rooms and $127,750 for private rooms [1], [3]. By 2030, costs are projected to reach $133,000 for semi-private and $153,000 for private rooms [3]. Longer stays and increased care complexity can drive costs higher for this group. Medicaid covers most long-term residents, but those with higher income or assets may need to spend down resources to qualify. Consulting with a Medicaid planning professional or state agency is recommended for navigating eligibility and coverage.

Factors Affecting Nursing Home Costs

Several factors influence the cost of nursing home care, including:

Geographic location: Costs vary dramatically, with Alaska and California among the most expensive states and Texas and Louisiana among the least expensive [1], [2].
Room type: Private rooms cost approximately $16,000 more per year than semi-private rooms [3].
Level of care required: Specialized medical services, memory care, and rehabilitation can increase costs substantially.
Length of stay: Women typically require longer stays than men, increasing overall expenses [1].
Insurance coverage: Long-term care insurance can offset costs but must be purchased before care is needed [1].
Medicaid and Medicare eligibility: Medicaid pays for most long-term care after assets are spent down; Medicare covers only short-term, medically necessary stays [2].

Additional factors include facility amenities, staffing ratios, and regional labor costs. Premium facilities in metropolitan areas may charge double the national median.

Accessing Nursing Home Care and Managing Costs

To access nursing home care, individuals and families should:

Research local facilities and compare costs using resources such as Genworth’s Cost of Care Calculator or state health department websites.
Contact state Medicaid offices for eligibility requirements and application instructions.
Consider long-term care insurance before age 65 to help manage future expenses.
Consult with financial planners or elder law attorneys for asset protection strategies and Medicaid planning.
Explore alternative care options such as assisted living or in-home care for those who do not require intensive medical supervision.

For more information, individuals can search for "nursing home costs" on official government health websites or consult with local Area Agencies on Aging.

Location, duration of stay, and services required are just a few of the factors that impact the cost of nursing home care. We’ve researched thousands of senior care facilities to discover pricing in all 50 states, combining our research with data from CareScout (a subsidiary of Genworth). The median cost of a private room in a nursing home is $361 per day or $10,965 per month in 2025.

Semiprivate rooms are more affordable with median prices of $314 per day or $9,555 per month. That adds up to an annual expense of $114,665 for a semiprivate room or $131,583 for a private room.¹ Fortunately, there are many ways families can make this necessary care more affordable.

How Much Do Nursing Homes Cost? Median Costs in 2025

The long-term cost of nursing home care will depend on factors such as your location, the provider, stay duration, and the need for any special services.

In some cases, facilities’ rates are all-inclusive, while others may charge additional fees for certain services, including physical therapy, speech therapy, and memory care.

Room type	Daily	Monthly	Annually
Semiprivate room	$314	$9,555	$114,665
Private room	$361	$10,965	$131,583

Rates have climbed in recent years, a trend that looks to continue. If current projections hold, the monthly cost of a semiprivate room in a nursing home will be approximately $11,077 by 2030, an increase of 15.9 percent. For semiprivate and private rooms, expected annual costs have already passed the six-figure mark.

The chart below shows past, present, and projected future costs, side by side.

Room type	2016	2025	2030
Semiprivate room	$82,128	$114,665	$132,928
Private room	$92,376	$131,583	$152,540

Nursing Home Costs By State

The state where you receive care impacts nursing home costs as much as the room type. In 2025, monthly median costs for a semiprivate room range from $5,639 in Texas to $31,282 in Alaska.

State	Semiprivate cost per month	Private cost per month
Alabama	$8,397	$8,773
Alaska	$31,282	$31,282
Arizona	$7,832	$10,809
Arkansas	$7,362	$7,942
California	$12,046	$15,633
Colorado	$10,339	$12,000
Connecticut	$15,508	$17,074
Delaware	$14,599	$15,336
District of Columbia	$11,952	$15,664
Florida	$10,652	$11,905
Georgia	$9,086	$9,712
Hawaii	$15,540	$16,855
Idaho	$10,370	$11,028
Illinois	$8,145	$9,399
Indiana	$8,741	$10,668
Iowa	$9,195	$9,947
Kansas	$7,989	$8,773
Kentucky	$8,992	$10,244
Louisiana	$7,707	$7,832
Maine	$13,315	$14,302
Maryland	$12,876	$14,881
Massachusetts	$14,881	$16,009
Michigan	$10,965	$11,921
Minnesota	$12,532	$14,490
Mississippi	$9,931	$10,182
Missouri	$6,548	$7,362
Montana	$9,336	$9,712
Nebraska	$8,631	$10,339
Nevada	$11,545	$13,174
New Hampshire	$12,845	$13,534
New Jersey	$12,751	$14,788
New Mexico	$10,057	$11,028
New York	$15,164	$16,025
North Carolina	$9,086	$10,182
North Dakota	$9,148	$9,963
Ohio	$9,305	$10,339
Oklahoma	$6,641	$7,832
Oregon	$16,292	$17,607
Pennsylvania	$12,187	$13,347
Rhode Island	$11,748	$13,080
South Carolina	$9,227	$9,822
South Dakota	$9,086	$9,618
Tennessee	$9,399	$10,151
Texas	$5,639	$7,300
Utah	$8,616	$10,965
Vermont	$14,099	$15,664
Virginia	$8,929	$10,120
Washington	$13,095	$14,255
West Virginia	$12,845	$13,252
Wisconsin	$10,370	$11,592
Wyoming	$10,213	$10,636
Nationwide	$9,555	$10,965

In every state, the cost of both semiprivate and private rooms in nursing homes rose between 2023 and 2024, and the current estimates for 2025 show even higher costs. For some states, the increases have been dramatic.

Carescout examined each state’s compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2024 for the cost of semiprivate and private rooms in nursing homes. They found that, nationally, the median price rose year-over-year by 7 percent, while the median cost of private rooms rose by 9 percent.²

The table below shows the median annual increase in nursing home costs by state.

State	Semiprivate	Private
Alabama	2%	2%
Alaska	5%	5%
Arizona	1%	1%
Arkansas	4%	3%
California	5%	5%
Colorado	4%	4%
Connecticut	2%	3%
Delaware	5%	5%
District of Columbia	1%	-2%
Florida	3%	3%
Georgia	4%	4%
Hawaii	3%	4%
Idaho	4%	4%
Illinois	2%	3%
Indiana	3%	3%
Iowa	4%	4%
Kansas	4%	4%
Kentucky	3%	3%
Louisiana	3%	3%
Maine	5%	5%
Maryland	4%	5%
Massachusetts	2%	2%
Michigan	4%	4%
Minnesota	10%	10%
Mississippi	2%	2%
Missouri	2%	2%
Montana	3%	3%
Nebraska	6%	5%
Nevada	3%	3%
New Hampshire	2%	3%
New Jersey	3%	2%
New Mexico	3%	3%
New York	3%	3%
North Carolina	3%	2%
North Dakota	2%	3%
Ohio	3%	2%
Oklahoma	4%	4%
Oregon	4%	4%
Pennsylvania	3%	3%
Rhode Island	3%	1%
South Carolina	4%	4%
South Dakota	3%	3%
Tennessee	4%	4%
Texas	3%	4%
Utah	5%	7%
Vermont	4%	5%
Virginia	4%	4%
Washington	3%	3%
West Virginia	7%	7%
Wisconsin	3%	3%
Wyoming	1%	1%
Nationwide	7%	9%

Most and Least Expensive States for Nursing Home Costs

Semiprivate Room: 10 Most Expensive States

Alaska: $31,282
Oregon: $16,292
Hawaii: $15,540
Connecticut: $15,508
New York: $15,164
Massachusetts: $14,881
Delaware: $14,599
Vermont: $14,099
Maine: $13,315
Washington: $13,095

Semiprivate Room: 10 Least Expensive States

Texas: $5,639
- Missouri: $6,548
- Oklahoma: $6,641
- Arkansas: $7,362
- Louisiana: $7,707
- Arizona: $7,832
- Kansas: $7,989
- Illinois: $8,145
- Alabama: $8,397
- Utah: $8,616

Private Room: 10 Most Expensive States

Alaska: $31,282
Oregon: $17,607
Connecticut: $17,074
Hawaii: $16,855
New York: $16,025
Massachusetts: $16,009
Vermont: $15,664
California: $15,633
Delaware: $15,336
Maryland: $14,881

Private Room: 10 Least Expensive States

Texas: $7,300
Missouri: $7,362
Louisiana: $7,832
Oklahoma: $7,832
Arkansas: $7,942
Alabama: $8,773
Kansas: $8,773
Illinois: $9,399
South Dakota: $9,618
Georgia: $9,712

How to Pay for Nursing Home Costs

Nursing care expenses can be paid for privately. However, you can also fund your care in other ways, including through health insurance, life insurance, long-term insurance policies, savings, reverse mortgages, and local or regional agency assistance.

Payment options

Medicare Coverage for Nursing Home Costs
Medicaid Coverage for Nursing Home Care
Veterans Benefits for Skilled Nursing Care
Private Pay
Annuity (Savings)
Life Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance
Renting Out a Property
Bridge Loan
Reverse Mortgage Loan

Medicare Coverage for Nursing Home Costs

Medicare will only cover skilled nursing care expenses in specific situations and shouldn’t be used to pay for nursing home or custodial care costs in the long term.

One such situation is when a senior has been hospitalized and released but still requires some specialized care. Medicare will help pay for short-term stays in nursing homes if they:

Were admitted to the hospital for a minimum of three days.
Have been admitted to a Medicare-certified facility within 30 days of the hospital stay.
Need skilled care like physical therapy, speech therapy, and other types of rehabilitation.

Those who meet these conditions under original Medicare will qualify for assistance as follows.

Up to 20 days of nursing care are 100 percent covered by Medicare.
After day 21 and up to day 100, patients will pay a copay of up to $200 per day.
After 100 days, all Medicare coverage ends, and all payments are the patient’s responsibility.

Pro Tip:

If you’re a new caregiver to a senior adult, check out our Compassionate Caregiving Course for tips and tricks.

Medicaid Coverage for Nursing Home Care

Medicaid coverage assists beneficiaries with multiple types of medical care, including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and long-term care services such as those received in a skilled nursing facility.

Often, this program covers 100 percent of these costs, though there may be copayments for select beneficiaries. For those who qualify for Medicaid, this is the best choice for nursing care coverage.

Did You Know?

Nationally, Medicaid paid for an average of 82 cents per dollar spent on care for nursing home patients.⁴

Veterans' Benefits for Skilled Nursing Care

Veterans with service-related injuries and disabilities can receive full coverage from the Department of Veterans Affairs for long-term care services at specified locations or through certain providers approved by the department.

Long-term VA care includes 24/7 nursing care, physical therapy, help with daily tasks, comfort care, and pain management. Those without service-related disabilities may also qualify for VA benefits. However, copayments may be required, depending on the veteran’s status. Visit our guide to veteran senior care to learn more about the various types of senior housing.

FYI:

Not all nursing homes are created equal. Use our senior living amenities checklist to find the benefits you need.

Private Pay

It’s common to pay for nursing home care privately before moving to Medicare or another funding source later. The main benefit of private payments is flexibility.

With Medicare and other taxpayer-subsidized programs, seniors have fewer choices because nursing homes can limit the number of publicly-funded enrollees. Study the accepted payment plans and methods before moving into a facility.

Sources of private funds could be savings or money from cashing out IRAs and other investments. People borrow from life insurance policies, sell their homes, and get reverse mortgages.

Pro Tip:

Are you trying to manage your finances to afford nursing care? Read our guide to finances for seniors for tips and expert advice on making the most of your money.

Annuity (Savings)

When planning long-term care, individuals with savings can buy an annuity. The underwriter receives a lump sum of cash and then issues regular monthly payments to the individual after retirement. The individual can use these payments for nursing homes, a car payment, and more.

The main advantage of having an annuity is financial discipline. The annuity forces savings to be stretched out over time. Regular payments are guaranteed. Additionally, savings put into an annuity are shielded from consideration on applications for government aid. Plus, a person who lives a long life could draw more from the account than they put into it.

The primary disadvantage of annuities is the value lost from commissions and annual charges. Also, penalties are charged if funds are withdrawn early.

Savings put into an annuity are shielded from consideration on applications for government aid.
A person who lives a long life could draw more from the account than they put into it.

The main disadvantage of annuities is that value is lost in commissions and annual charges. Also, penalties are charged if funds are withdrawn early.

Life Insurance

A whole life insurance policy (but not a term life insurance policy) can be tapped for long-term care payments. However, this, of course, reduces the financial benefit for heirs. Three approaches are:

Surrendering a policy
Selling a policy
Converting life insurance to “life assurance”

First, a whole life insurance policy can be surrendered to the provider. That means the agency purchases the policy back from the policyholder. However, they'll usually pay 50 to 75 percent of the face value.

Pro Tip:

If you’re looking for affordable life insurance plans, check out our guide for the best cheap life insurance in 2025.

Similar terms are offered for the second approach: selling the policy to a “life settlements” company. Again, the typical offer is about 50 to 75 percent of the policy's value. The life settlements company pays the policy's premiums until the policyholder passes. The company then receives the financial payout.

Life insurance conversion to “life assurance” is a third option designed to cover long-term senior care. Like life insurance for seniors, life assurance includes a savings guarantee (plus an investment portfolio). Life insurance conversion accounts could offer less for senior care, but preserve a death benefit (inheritance). Meeting with a financial advisor could help you decide if life insurance is the right option for you.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Buying long-term care insurance can be smart when someone plans to pay for senior care. It offers more freedom of choice than using Medicare and other public programs for nursing home payments.

People buy policies that pay anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 per month. Inflation protection can be included with monthly premium payments to guard against dramatic market changes.

Long-term care insurance policies vary in when they’ll pay benefits. Generally, to receive payments for nursing home care or assisted living, a person must require assistance in at least two activities of daily living. A doctor’s statement documenting this need is necessary as part of the claim.

Renting Out a Property

When a senior leaves their old home after moving to a nursing home, renting it out with careful management could be a valuable income source. Turning a home into a rental might become a permanent source of income for the family or a temporary source of income until they sell the house.

Ideally, rental arrangements should be made when the homeowner is still a competent decision-maker. For a loved one to take over, that person will need legal guardianship or power of attorney over the homeowner.

Bridge Loan

Bridge loans can cover people's living expenses as they await a property sale, pension payout, or another virtually guaranteed source of income. A bridge loan is a short-term loan, but the first payment isn't due until 90 days after signing. Typical loan lengths vary from three months to two years.

Reverse Mortgage Loan

While a bridge loan can help during a pending home sale, a reverse mortgage loan helps keep the home until the second spouse moves out or passes away. The loaned money can help cover nursing home care.

The advantage of using a reverse mortgage loan for nursing home payments is that it covers two housing costs simultaneously. Loan payments become due when the second person no longer lives in the home. Heirs often opt to sell the property rather than make payments.

FYI:

One of the best ways to manage your budget is to use an app. Check out these best budgeting apps for seniors.

References

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