Money & Retirement
Paying for future care
Care late in life costs real money, and Medicare does not pay for most long stays or daily hands-on help at home. Families often learn this during a crisis, when choices are rushed and prices are a shock. Planning early gives you time to compare what care costs, what you could pay yourself, and what help exists.
The guides here use current national cost figures with their sources named, so you can plan with real numbers. You will find how Medicaid fits in for people with low income and few assets, what long-term care insurance does and does not cover, and how veterans' benefits and home equity enter the picture for some families.
The numbers
| Figures for this topic | |
|---|---|
| Assisted living, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025) | $6,200 a month |
| Help at home (non-medical care), median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025) | $35 an hour |
| Adult day care, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025) | $95 a day |
| Nursing home, semi-private room, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025) | $9,581 a month |
| Nursing home, private room, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025) | $10,798 a month |
Continue on Care and Living Guide
Paying for care — See who pays for care — Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.
Free local help
Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: