Estimate the current and future cost of long-term care services in the United States including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health aides, and adult day care based on your location, age, and care preferences using the latest Genworth and industry data.
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About Long-Term Care Cost Calculator
Long-term care is one of the most significant and often underestimated expenses in retirement planning. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the median annual cost of a private nursing home room in the United States exceeds $108,000, while assisted living facilities average $66,000 per year. With 70% of Americans turning age 65 expected to need some form of long-term care services in their lifetime, understanding these potential costs is critical for financial planning. This long-term care cost calculator provides personalized estimates based on your age, care type, location, and projected needs, helping you plan for one of the largest potential healthcare expenses you will face in retirement.
How to Use This Calculator
Start by entering your current age — this helps estimate the likelihood and potential duration of needing care based on actuarial data. Select the type of care you are planning for: skilled nursing facilities provide 24/7 medical care and are the most expensive option, while assisted living offers a more affordable residential option with personal care support. Home health aides allow you to age in place with part-time assistance, and adult day care provides daytime supervision at the lowest cost. Choose your region since costs vary dramatically — the Northeast and West Coast are substantially more expensive than the Midwest and South. Set the number of years you expect to need care; the national average is approximately 3 years for assisted living and 2-3 years for nursing home care. Adjust the inflation rate — long-term care costs have historically risen 3-5% annually, outpacing general inflation. Finally, indicate when you expect care to begin, as starting later means higher costs due to inflation. The calculator projects both current-dollar costs and future inflated costs to give you a complete financial picture.
When to Use This Calculator
Use this calculator when creating or updating your retirement plan to understand how long-term care expenses could impact your savings and income strategy. Use it when evaluating long-term care insurance policies — compare the projected total cost against policy premiums and benefit limits to determine if insurance is worth the investment. Use it if you are approaching retirement age and considering downsizing or relocating, as your choice of region significantly affects care costs. Use it when helping aging parents plan their future care needs, as the financial burden often falls on family members who need to prepare. Use it when comparing different care options for a loved one — knowing the cost difference between a nursing home and home health aide can guide difficult decisions about care quality versus affordability.
How to Interpret Your Results
For a 65-year-old in the Midwest planning for 3 years in a semi-private nursing home room starting today, the monthly cost would be approximately $8,500 in today's dollars. At a 4% inflation rate, that same month of care would cost nearly $9,600 by the time care is needed in 3 years. Over the full 3-year care period, total costs would approach $330,000-360,000, with the final months costing over $10,000 per month due to compounding inflation. In contrast, assisted living in the South for a 70-year-old needing 4 years of care starting in 5 years would cost roughly $4,500 per month today, growing to $5,500 when care begins, with total costs around $240,000-270,000. A home health aide in the Midwest providing 44 hours per week for 2 years starting immediately would cost approximately $5,500 per month today, totaling $132,000-145,000. Adult day care in the Plains region represents the most affordable option at roughly $1,800 per month, totaling $65,000-75,000 over 3 years. These projections highlight why planning ahead is essential — waiting even a few years can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total.
What is the average cost of long-term care in the United States?
According to the Genworth 2024 Cost of Care Survey, the national median cost for a private room in a skilled nursing facility is $9,034 per month or $108,408 per year. A semi-private room averages $8,390 per month. Assisted living facilities cost a median of $5,511 per month or $66,132 per year. Home health aide services at 44 hours per week average $6,292 per month, while adult day care costs approximately $1,926 per month. These costs vary substantially by region — the Northeast is typically 30-50% higher than the national average, while the South and Midwest are 10-20% lower. All of these costs have been rising 3-5% annually, significantly outpacing general inflation, which means waiting to plan can be expensive.
Does Medicare or Medicaid cover long-term care costs?
Medicare provides very limited coverage for long-term care. It covers only short-term skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days, and only for up to 100 days with the first 20 days fully covered and a daily co-pay for days 21-100. Medicare does not pay for custodial care, which is the type of assistance with daily activities that most long-term care patients need. Medicaid, on the other hand, does cover long-term care services including nursing home care, but it is a need-based program requiring recipients to spend down their assets to qualify. This means you must typically exhaust most of your savings before Medicaid begins paying. Veterans may qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides additional monthly pension payments to cover long-term care costs. Long-term care insurance remains the primary private option for covering these expenses without depleting assets.
How much long-term care insurance should I buy?
The amount of long-term care insurance you need depends on your age, location, assets, and the type of care you prefer. A general rule of thumb is to buy enough coverage to pay for 3-5 years of care, as most care episodes last 2-4 years. Given the current national average nursing home cost of $9,000-10,000 per month, a policy with a $300-400 daily benefit ($9,000-12,000 per month) with a 3-year benefit period would provide approximately $324,000-432,000 in total coverage. However, since costs vary by region, someone in the Northeast may need a higher daily benefit of $400-500, while someone in the Midwest may need $250-350. Most policies include an inflation protection rider that increases the benefit by 3-5% annually, which is critical since care costs rise faster than general inflation. The ideal age to purchase a policy is typically between 55 and 65, when premiums are more affordable and you are still likely to qualify medically.
How long do most people need long-term care?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 70% of people turning age 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetime. Among those who need care, the average duration of care is about 3 years. However, this varies significantly by gender and care type. Women need care for an average of 3.7 years compared to 2.2 years for men, primarily because women live longer. About 20% of people who reach age 65 will need care for more than 5 years. For nursing home care specifically, the average stay is approximately 2.3 years, while assisted living residents typically stay 2-3 years. Home health aide users average about 2 years of care. Only about 14% of people will need care for longer than 5 years, but those who do account for a disproportionate share of total long-term care spending. These statistics underscore the importance of planning for a range of care durations rather than assuming a single average.
How does geographic location affect long-term care costs?
Geographic location has a dramatic impact on long-term care costs, often exceeding a 50% difference between the most and least expensive regions. The Northeast is consistently the most expensive region — a private nursing home room in Connecticut or Massachusetts averages $12,000-15,000 per month, while the same level of care in Oklahoma or Missouri averages $6,000-7,500 per month. The West Coast also commands premium rates with California nursing homes averaging $10,000-13,000 per month for private rooms. The South and Midwest offer the most affordable options, with Texas, Georgia, and Ohio averaging $6,500-8,000 per month. Even within the same state, costs can vary significantly between urban and rural areas — care in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Boston, or San Francisco can be 40-60% higher than in rural parts of the same state. These geographic differentials are driven by differences in labor costs, real estate prices, and state regulations affecting staffing ratios and facility requirements.
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