Paying for Care
Does Medicaid Pay for Assisted Living? State-by-State Waiver Guide (2026)
Medicaid rarely covers assisted living room and board, but HCBS waivers may pay for care services. State waiver table, income limits, and free 50-state screener.
Rachel founded AllyKin after navigating assisted living placement for her own family in Texas. She leads editorial on Medicaid, CMS ratings, and state inspection guides — email-first matching with no call spam.
A common misconception is that Medicaid automatically covers assisted living like it covers nursing homes. In reality, Medicaid's role in assisted living varies dramatically by state — and room and board is almost never covered.
How Medicaid waivers work for assisted living
Many states operate Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs that pay for personal care services in licensed assisted living communities. The resident typically still pays for room and board from Social Security, pension, or family contributions.
State Medicaid waiver programs (2026)
- Texas — STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver
- Arizona — ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System)
- Florida — SMMC Long-Term Care
- California — Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
- Ohio — PASSPORT and assisted living waivers
- Pennsylvania — OPTIONS program
- North Carolina — CAP/DA and Innovations waivers
- Georgia — SOURCE and CCSP waivers
- Tennessee — TennCare CHOICES
- Michigan — MI Choice waiver
- Oklahoma — ADvantage waiver
- New York — Managed Long Term Care (MLTC)
- Delaware — Diamond State Health Plan LTSS
What families should do
Contact your state's Area Agency on Aging for current waiver availability and waitlist status. Ask each community directly if they accept Medicaid waiver residents — many do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?
- Medicaid rarely covers assisted living room and board. However, many states operate Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs that pay for personal care services inside licensed assisted living facilities. The resident still pays for room and board using Social Security, pension, or family funds.
- Which states have Medicaid waivers for assisted living?
- States with active HCBS waiver programs for assisted living include Texas (STAR+PLUS), Florida (SMMC), Arizona (ALTCS), California (Assisted Living Waiver), Ohio (PASSPORT), New York (MLTC), North Carolina (CAP/DA), Georgia (SOURCE/CCSP), Tennessee (CHOICES), Michigan (MI Choice), and others. Waitlists exist in most states.
- What is the income limit for Medicaid assisted living?
- Income and asset limits vary by state. Most states require monthly income below approximately $2,742 (2026 federal standard). Assets must typically fall below $2,000 for individuals. Some states use higher limits or have Medically Needy pathways. Use our free state-by-state Medicaid screener for exact limits.
Need help finding care near you?
Our free matching service connects families with assisted living and memory care options in their area — email first, no spam calls.
Get Free MatchesFind verified senior care communities
Browse 2,000+ assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities — each with AllyKin Safety Scores, CMS inspection data, and federal penalty records.
Browse communities directory → →