How Do You Find a Medicaid-Friendly Assisted Living?
Finding Medicaid-Friendly Assisted Living – Quick Facts
No—there’s no public, centralized database listing assisted living facilities that accept Medicaid.
Most do not assist Medicaid recipients because they are paid by facilities only for private-pay referrals.
No—Medicaid covers care services only, not room and board, which is the resident’s responsibility.
Know your Medicaid eligibility, program type, and whether consumer-directed care is allowed.
Why is it so hard to find Medicaid-assisted living options?
Locating assisted living facilities that accept Medicaid can be frustrating because no national database exists, and most state databases are incomplete or outdated. Common problems include:
- No tracking of Medicaid licensure or payment acceptance.
- No filter for payment types on state or public listings.
- Limited or missing data on Medicaid bed availability.
- Medicaid can fund care in a facility even if the facility itself does not bill Medicaid directly.
Roughly half of assisted living facilities are Medicaid-certified, but not all accept Medicaid residents—and some states don’t offer Medicaid funding for assisted living at all.
Do placement agencies help Medicaid recipients?
Most national referral services, like A Place for Mom or Caring.com, focus on private-pay clients because facilities pay them for referrals. Since facilities generally don’t pay for Medicaid placements, these agencies rarely assist. In some cases, Medicaid inquiries may be ignored or contact information may be shared with unrelated businesses targeting low-income seniors.
What should you know before starting your search?
- Medicaid covers services, not rent: Expect to pay room and board yourself. Average U.S. assisted living cost: $5,900/month (about half for care, half for housing).
- Two payment paths exist: Facilities may bill Medicaid directly or you may use Medicaid to pay an outside caregiver who provides services within the residence.
- Different Medicaid programs apply:
- HCBS Waivers: For those meeting Nursing Home Level of Care. Not an entitlement; often wait-listed.
- Regular / Aged, Blind, Disabled Medicaid: Entitlement with different eligibility rules; no wait-list.
- Know your eligibility: Use online tests, state-specific guides, or program criteria to confirm.
Tip: Both HCBS Waivers and Regular Medicaid may allow consumer-directed care, letting you choose your caregiver—even in facilities without a Medicaid contract.
How should you search for Medicaid-assisted living?
- Review the “What to Know” section above before calling any facilities.
- Decide which Medicaid program you plan to use and confirm if it allows consumer direction.
- Use Google (not placement sites) to create a contact list—search “assisted living + [your city]” and skip ads.
- Call each facility’s Sales or Marketing department and ask:
- Do you have Medicaid beds? How many?
- Are any available? Is there a wait-list?
- Can non-residents join the wait-list?
- Do you allow outside caregivers for ADL assistance?
- Refine your list and arrange in-person visits.
What other factors should you consider?
- Room & Board Caps: Some states limit charges to SSI rate minus a Personal Needs Allowance (PNA).
- Supplemental Assistance: Certain states offer Optional State Supplementation to help cover rent.
- Profitability Concerns: Facilities earn more from private-pay residents, which can affect service priorities for Medicaid residents.
- Eviction Risks: State protections vary; many facilities can discharge residents who run out of funds or switch to Medicaid.
- Medicaid Usage: About 18% of assisted living residents receive some Medicaid help.
- Retroactive Coverage: Unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities may not receive retroactive Medicaid payments.
