Care options and real costs
Care cost calculator
Compare the monthly cost of each kind of care where your loved one lives, add the costs people forget, and see about how long savings may last.
Do this first
Start with your loved one's state, their savings and monthly income. Then replace the medians with real quotes from providers near you: prices vary a lot from town to town.
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How to use the results
- The starting prices are medians: half of providers charge more and half charge less.
- Medicare does not pay for long-term personal care or a long nursing home stay. It covers up to Maximum days of skilled nursing facility care Medicare covers per benefit periodAs of September 28, 2026.Only after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay, and only while daily skilled care is needed. Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care.Source: Medicare.gov: Skilled nursing facility care of skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay, with a daily charge of Medicare skilled nursing facility coinsurance, days 21–100 (2026)As of January 1, 2026.Days 1–20 have no coinsurance. Medicare pays nothing after day 100 in a benefit period.Source: CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles from day 21.
- If savings will run out, talk early with an elder law attorney about Medicaid and with the VA if your loved one is a veteran. See who pays for what.
Sources
Last reviewed: September 28, 2026