Long-term care
How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost? 2026 Guide to Home Care, Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes
Long-term care is expensive and usually isn’t covered by health insurance or Medicare. In 2024, the national median cost was $127,750 a year for a private nursing home room, $70,800 for assisted living, and $77,792 for a full-time home health aide. Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some long-term care.
This guide shows what each type of care costs, how long people typically need care, what Medicare and health insurance won’t pay, and how to plan for the bill.
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Costs by type of care
| Type of care | Median annual cost | Change from 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Homemaker services | $75,504 | +10% |
| Home health aide | $77,792 | +3% |
| Adult day care (5 days a week) | $26,000 | +5% |
| Assisted living community | $70,800 | +10% |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $111,325 | +7% |
| Nursing home, private room | $127,750 | +9% |
Source: Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2024. Costs vary widely by state and city, and the survey found increases across every type of care.
How likely you are to need care, and for how long
Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some long-term care services. Women need care for about 3.7 years on average and men about 2.2 years, and about one in five people will need care for more than five years (Administration for Community Living). Many people start with help at home and move to assisted living or a nursing home as needs grow.
Example: what a care need can cost
- Three years in assisted living at the 2024 median: about $212,400.
- 2.2 years in a private nursing home room: about $281,050.
- Two years of a full-time home health aide: about $155,584.
These are illustrative totals at 2024 medians. Costs have been rising, so care needed 10 or 20 years from now will likely cost more.
Care at home vs. in a facility
Most people would rather get care at home, and part-time help can cost much less than a facility. But costs rise quickly with hours: round-the-clock home care can cost more than a nursing home. Adult day programs, at a 2024 median of $26,000 a year for five days a week, can give family caregivers a break at lower cost. Many families combine family help, part-time aides, and adult day care before moving to assisted living.
What Medicare and health insurance don’t pay
Medicare doesn’t cover long-term or custodial care, meaning help with daily activities like bathing and dressing, unless medical care is also needed. Medicare and most health plans, including Medigap, don’t pay for long-term care in a nursing home or in the community (Medicare.gov). Medicare can cover short stays in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, but in 2026 you pay $217 a day for days 21 through 100 (CMS), and coverage ends after 100 days.
Ways people pay for care
- Savings and income: the most common source, especially for shorter care needs.
- Long-term care insurance: traditional policies pay a daily or monthly benefit for covered care.
- Hybrid life and long-term care policies: combine a death benefit with long-term care benefits.
- Medicaid: pays for long-term care once income and assets are low enough; see how to pay for long-term care.
- Life insurance riders: some policies let you use part of the death benefit for care; see LTC riders vs. standalone coverage.
How to plan ahead
- Look up care costs where you expect to live, since they vary widely.
- Decide how much you could pay from savings and income.
- Compare coverage options in your 50s or early 60s, when health is usually better and premiums lower.
- Talk with family about who would provide care and where.
- Set up a health care power of attorney and keep records organized.
Use our long-term care insurance calculator to estimate how much coverage you might need.
Long-term care cost FAQs
How much does a nursing home cost per year?
The 2024 national median was $127,750 for a private room and $111,325 for a semi-private room.
How much does assisted living cost?
The 2024 national median was $70,800 a year.
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term custodial care, though it can cover short skilled nursing stays after a qualifying hospital stay.
What are the chances I’ll need long-term care?
Someone turning 65 has almost a 70% chance of needing some long-term care.
How long do people need long-term care?
On average about 3.7 years for women and 2.2 years for men.
How much does in-home care cost?
A full-time home health aide had a 2024 national median cost of $77,792 a year.
When should I plan for long-term care?
Many people start in their 50s or early 60s, when coverage is easier to qualify for.
Is home care cheaper than a nursing home?
Part-time home care usually is, but round-the-clock home care can cost more than a nursing home.
Related guides
Important information
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Cost and program figures. Care costs, Medicare and Medicaid amounts, and tax limits are cited from the sources named, for the years shown, and change regularly. Examples are illustrative, not quotes; your price depends on the insurer, your age, health, and the coverage you choose.
Not tax, legal, or Medicaid planning advice. Rules summarized here are general information as of November 2026. Talk with a tax professional or elder law attorney about your situation.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
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