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• What is long term care and who needs it?
• Where are long term care services received and who provides long term care?
• Common long term care myths
• How much does long term care cost?
• Will health insurance or disability insurance cover long term care costs?
• Will Medicare cover long term care costs?
• How can I pay for long term care?
• Can I pay my long term care costs and insurance premiums through a Health Savings Account (HSA)?
   

Long Term Care Basics

How Much Does Long Term Care Cost?

The cost of long term care varies greatly, depending on the type of care, the place provided, and the region where you receive your care.

For instance, the average hourly cost of home care ranges from $14 per hour in Montgomery, Alabama, to $24 per hour in Hartford, Connecticut.³ Nursing home care costs vary from $115 per day in Shreveport, Louisiana, to $340 in New York City for a semi-private room.⁹

Home care — which most people prefer — is generally more affordable than nursing home care, but still can be expensive. When averaged nationally, the cost of a five-hour visit by a home health aide is $95.³ That’s well over $24,000 per year (for a home health aide visiting five hours per day, five days a week). These costs rise significantly if around-the-clock care is needed.

Click on the link below to get an estimate of the average costs of home health care, assisted living, and nursing home care in your area:

Find the Cost of Long Term Care in Your Area

When family members provide informal care at home, costs are harder to estimate. The caregiver may have to leave his or her job. Or perhaps the price is paid in emotional stress. These costs don’t show up in economic statistics.

Once you've determined the cost of long term care in your area, you might want to learn about the options for paying for long term care services.

[ Back to LTC Basics ]