2026 Nursing Home Cost Guide · FL
Nursing Home Cost in Florida
Nursing homes in Florida average $8,500/month for semi-private rooms and $9,800/month for private rooms in 2026. Florida Medicaid covers skilled nursing home care for eligible seniors. Compare costs, understand Medicaid eligibility, and find quality nursing homes near you.
Semi-Private Avg
$8,500
Private Room Avg
$9,800
vs. National Avg
6% above
Medicaid Covers NH
Yes
Florida Nursing Home Cost Breakdown
| Room Type / Care Level | Est. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Semi-private room (shared) | $8,500/mo |
| Private room | $9,800/mo |
| Private room + enhanced care (bariatric, ventilator) | $11,760/mo |
| Short-term rehabilitation (first 20 days — Medicare) Covered 100% by Medicare (days 1–20 after qualifying hospital stay) | — |
| Short-term rehab (days 21–100 — Medicare co-pay) $194/day co-pay (2025); Medicare supplement may cover | $194/day |
| Long-term care (private pay, no Medicare) | $9,800/mo |
Estimates based on 2026 statewide averages. Actual rates vary by facility, location, and care needs.
What Nursing Home Costs Cover
Always included
- Room and board (semi-private or private)
- 3 meals/day + snacks and therapeutic diets
- 24/7 licensed nursing staff (RN, LPN, CNA)
- Medication management and administration
- Physician oversight and care coordination
- Basic personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting)
- Housekeeping, laundry, and linens
- Social services and discharge planning
Usually extra or billed separately
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy (may bill Medicare Part A/B)
- Dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses
- Private-duty nursing or personal companion
- Barber/beauty salon services
- Telephone, cable TV, personal items
- Specialized therapies (music, pet, art)
- Ambulance transportation
- Non-formulary medications
Florida Medicaid Coverage for Nursing Homes
Florida Medicaid covers skilled nursing home care under its Statewide Managed Long-term Care (SMCLTC) program. Managed care organizations (Humana Gold Plus, Sunshine Health, etc.) coordinate nursing home care for Medicaid-eligible seniors. Income limit: ~$2,829/month; asset limit: $2,000. Florida has ~700 licensed nursing homes.
How nursing home Medicaid works:
- Meet financial eligibility: income and asset limits (see above)
- Meet level of care: assessed as needing nursing home-level care by state evaluator
- Choose a Medicaid-certified nursing home with available Medicaid beds
- Resident pays most monthly income toward care (keeping a small personal needs allowance)
- Medicaid pays the remainder of the nursing home bill
What Drives Nursing Home Costs in Florida
- South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton) nursing homes run 20–35% above the state average
- Central and North Florida are closer to the statewide average
- Florida's large retiree population creates high demand for skilled nursing beds
- Hurricane-rated construction and insurance costs add overhead
- Florida's SMCLTC managed care model creates competition that moderates some cost increases
Veterans Benefits for Nursing Home Care in Florida
- VA Community Living Centers (CLCs): VA-operated nursing homes — free or low-cost for service-connected veterans
- Florida State Veterans Homes: subsidized skilled nursing for qualifying veterans
- VA Aid & Attendance pension: up to $2,830/month for qualifying veterans to offset private-pay costs
- Community Nursing Home Program: VA pays for private nursing home care for eligible veterans
How to Choose a Nursing Home in Florida
Check Medicare's 5-star ratings
Medicare Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare) rates every nursing home on overall quality, health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Aim for 4–5 stars.
Review recent inspection reports
Florida's health department publishes all inspection citations. Look for 'immediate jeopardy' citations (J-L severity) in the last 3 years — these indicate life-threatening violations.
Verify Medicaid bed availability
If you need Medicaid funding, confirm the facility has Medicaid-certified beds available — not all nursing homes accept Medicaid or may have waitlists for Medicaid beds.
Check staffing levels
Medicare publishes weekly staffing hours per resident day (NHPPD). Look for facilities above the national average (3.8 NHPPD total nursing). High turnover is a red flag.
Tour and ask key questions
Visit at different times (morning and evening). Ask: What's your staff turnover rate? How do you handle resident falls? What's your infection control record? How are families kept informed?
Consult a discharge planner or elder law attorney
Hospital discharge planners know local nursing home quality firsthand. An elder law attorney can advise on Medicaid spend-down planning and protecting a spouse's assets.
Frequently Asked Questions: Florida Nursing Home Costs
Does Florida Medicaid pay for nursing homes?▾
Yes. Florida Medicaid's SMCLTC program covers skilled nursing home care for eligible seniors. A managed care organization coordinates your nursing home placement and care. Income must be below $2,829/month; assets below $2,000. Contact your local DCF office or the Florida Elder Helpline at 800-963-5337 to apply.
How much does a nursing home cost in Florida?▾
Florida nursing home costs average $8,500/month for semi-private rooms and $9,800/month for private rooms in 2026. Miami-Dade and Broward County SNFs can run $10,000–$13,000+. Tampa and Orlando average $8,000–$10,500. North Florida cities like Tallahassee and Gainesville average $7,000–$9,000.
What is the Florida nursing home inspection process?▾
Florida AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) inspects all licensed nursing homes annually and publishes results at ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/. Look for recent 'Class I' citations (immediate jeopardy). Florida also publishes nursing home financial performance data annually. You can also call the AHCA complaint hotline at 888-419-3456.
Find verified senior care communities
Browse our directory of 2,000+ assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities — each with AllyKin Safety Scores, CMS inspection data, and state licensing records.
Browse all communities →Compare nursing home costs across all states:
← Back to All Nursing Home Costs