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Senior Care Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare monthly, annual, and 10-year costs for all 7 types of senior care — adjusted for your state, insurance, VA benefits, and savings. See exactly when assets run out and which options your coverage pays for.
Location
State cost multiplier applied to all rates
Care Details
Nursing home room type
Care Types
Financial Profile
Social Security, pension, other income
Determines when savings will be depleted
Insurance & Benefits
2024 pension rates for wartime veterans with care needs
Estimated monthly costs in Texas
after insurance · from your assetsMost Affordable
☀️ Adult Day Care
Covered
from assets
Most Expensive
🏥 Skilled Nursing
$5,475/mo
from assets
Max Insurance Saves
on Adult Day Care
$0/mo
≈ $0/yr
Full Cost Comparison
| Care Type | Monthly Gross | Saves | Monthly OOP | Annual | 5-Year | 10-Year | Depletion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
☀️ Adult Day Care | $1,555 | — | Covered | — | — | — | Never |
🕊️ Hospice Care | $5,704 | −$5,428 | Covered | — | — | — | Never |
🏠 Independent Living | $2,852 | — | $352 | $4,224 | $21K | $42K | 35.5 yr |
🏡 Assisted Living | $4,524 | — | $2,024 | $24,288 | $121K | $243K | 6.2 yr |
🏘️ In-Home Care | $5,262 | — | $2,762 | $33,144 | $166K | $331K | 4.5 yr |
🧠 Memory Care | $5,667 | — | $3,167 | $38,004 | $190K | $380K | 3.9 yr |
🏥 Skilled Nursing | $7,975 | — | $5,475 | $65,700 | $329K | $657K | 2.3 yr |
OOP = out-of-pocket from assets per month (after income offsets). Depletion = months until $150K in assets is exhausted.
Visual Comparison
Monthly Cost (gross vs. out-of-pocket)
Insurance & Benefit Savings
Asset Depletion Timeline — 10-Year Projection
Starting balance: $150,000Dots mark where assets reach $0. Lines flat at $0 after depletion. Assumes constant monthly draw and no investment returns.
Insurance Savings Detail
| Care Type | Medicare | Medicaid | VA A&A | LTCI | Total Saves/mo | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Adult Day Care | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 🕊️ Hospice Care | $5,428 | — | — | — | $5,428 | $65K |
| 🏠 Independent Living | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 🏡 Assisted Living | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 🏘️ In-Home Care | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 🧠 Memory Care | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 🏥 Skilled Nursing | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Data sources & methodology
Base rates from the Genworth 2023 Cost of Care Survey (national medians) adjusted by state-level regional multipliers. Home care priced at $30/hr (CMS national median for a home health aide). Adult day care at $78/day.
Medicare: Hospice modeled at 95% coverage (Part A). SNF skilled nursing coverage excluded for long-term planning (covers only post-acute rehab up to 100 days).
Medicaid SNF: Patient contributes income minus $60 personal needs allowance; Medicaid covers the balance. HCBS waivers for AL/MC/home care modeled at 60–75% based on national averages (varies by state).
VA Aid & Attendance: 2024 annual pension rates ÷ 12. Requires service-connected disability or wartime service and demonstrated need for assistance. Asset and income limits apply.
Estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual costs depend on local market, level of care, community fees, and individual circumstances.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does assisted living cost per month?
- The national median cost of assisted living is $4,917 per month in 2024, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Costs vary significantly by state — from roughly $3,500/month in Mississippi and Arkansas to over $7,000/month in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. Use the calculator above and select your state for a location-adjusted estimate.
- What is the average cost of memory care?
- Memory care costs a national median of $6,160 per month — roughly 25–35% more than standard assisted living. The premium reflects secured units, higher staff-to-resident ratios, and specialized dementia training. In high-cost states like California and New York, memory care often exceeds $8,000/month.
- Does Medicare pay for assisted living or memory care?
- No. Medicare does not cover assisted living, memory care, or independent living. Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care for up to 100 days per benefit period — but only for post-acute/rehabilitation needs following a qualifying hospital stay, not for long-term custodial care. Medicare Part A covers almost all hospice costs.
- What does Medicaid pay for in a nursing home?
- Medicaid covers the full cost of skilled nursing facility care for eligible residents. The resident pays their monthly income (minus a ~$60 personal needs allowance) toward care, and Medicaid covers the remainder. Asset eligibility is typically below $2,000 for an individual. Medicaid spend-down rules require depleting most assets before qualifying.
- What is VA Aid and Attendance?
- VA Aid and Attendance is a pension benefit for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need assistance with daily activities. In 2024, the benefit is $2,727/month for a veteran alone, $3,224/month for a veteran with a spouse, and $1,753/month for a surviving spouse. It can be applied toward any type of senior care — assisted living, home care, nursing home, or hospice. Net worth and income limits apply.
- How long does $150,000 last in a nursing home?
- At the national median cost of $8,669/month for a semi-private room, $150,000 in assets would last approximately 17 months — just under a year and a half. With income (e.g., $2,500/month Social Security), the monthly draw drops to $6,169, extending depletion to about 24 months. Use the Asset Depletion chart in the calculator to model your specific scenario.
- What does long-term care insurance cover?
- Long-term care insurance (LTCI) typically pays a daily or monthly benefit when the insured person needs help with two or more activities of daily living (ADLs) or has a cognitive impairment. Most policies cover assisted living, memory care, home care, and nursing home care. Benefit amounts vary — common policies pay $100–$300/day. Premiums are lowest when purchased before age 60.
- How much does in-home care cost per hour?
- Home health aide services cost a national median of $30/hour in 2024 (Genworth). Costs range from about $22/hour in rural Southern states to $40+/hour in Alaska, Hawaii, and major coastal cities. For 44 hours per week (a common full-time schedule), that's approximately $5,720/month nationally. Part-time care (20 hrs/week) runs about $2,600/month.
- What is the most affordable senior care option?
- Adult day care is typically the most affordable option at a national median of $1,690/month for 5 days per week. Part-time in-home care (8–20 hrs/week) can be similar. Independent living ($3,100/month median) is next, followed by assisted living ($4,917) and then memory care and skilled nursing. The right choice depends on the level of care needed, not just cost.
- What is the break-even point for in-home care vs. assisted living?
- For most families, in-home care becomes more expensive than assisted living when needs exceed 50–60 hours per week. At $30/hour, 60 hrs/week = $7,800/month — significantly more than the $4,917/month assisted living median. Below 44 hours/week, in-home care is typically cheaper. The calculator lets you set exact hours to find your personal break-even.
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Get Free Care MatchesData: Genworth 2023 Cost of Care Survey · CMS · VA pension rates 2024. Estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual costs depend on level of care, community fees, and individual circumstances.