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Medicaid for long-term care, state by state

Each state runs its own Medicaid program, with its own name, agency and programs to pay for nursing homes, assisted living or care at home. Here are all 52 states and territories, with the phone number and official link to apply.

Medicaid pays for nursing home care in every state for people who meet the medical and financial requirements. Programs that pay for care at home or in assisted living (waivers) vary from state to state: choose yours.

Alabama

Alabama Medicaid Agency. (800) 362-1504 · Apply

Guide and places in Alabama · Costs in Alabama

Alaska

Alaska Department of Health – Division of Public Assistance (Alaska Medicaid). (800) 478-7778 · Apply

  • Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) Waiver: For adults 21 or older who need a nursing home level of care: home and community-based services, including living in a licensed assisted living home. The first step is to call the ADRC.

Guide and places in Alaska · Costs in Alaska

Arizona AHCCCS

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). (888) 621-6880 · Apply

  • Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS): AHCCCS coverage for older adults or people with disabilities who need a nursing home level of care; services can be provided in a nursing home, at home, or in assisted living (not including room and board).

Guide and places in Arizona · Costs in Arizona

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). (855) 372-1084 · Apply

  • ARChoices in Homecare: Home and community-based services for people 65 or older, or 21 to 64 with a physical disability, who need a nursing home level of care: personal care, adult day care, respite care, and more.
  • Living Choices Assisted Living: Pays for care services in a Level II assisted living facility for people 65 or older, or 21 to 64 with a physical disability; it does not cover room and board.
  • PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly): Coordinated medical and long-term care for people 55 or older who live in a PACE service area and need a nursing home level of care.

Guide and places in Arkansas · Costs in Arkansas

California Medi-Cal

California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). (800) 541-5555 · Apply

Guide and places in California · Costs in California

Colorado Health First Colorado

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). (800) 221-3943 · Apply

  • Nursing facility care: Health First Colorado pays for nursing home care for people who meet the medical and financial requirements.
  • Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) Waiver: Home and community-based services for people who are older, blind, or have a disability, need a nursing home level of care, and prefer not to move into one.

Guide and places in Colorado · Costs in Colorado

Connecticut HUSKY Health (HUSKY C for people 65 or older)

Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). (855) 626-6632 · Apply

Guide and places in Connecticut · Costs in Connecticut

Delaware

Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA). (866) 940-8963 · Apply

Guide and places in Delaware · Costs in Delaware

District of Columbia DC Medicaid

DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF); applications are handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS). (202) 727-5355 · Apply

Guide and places in District of Columbia

Florida

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). (850) 300-4323 · Apply

  • Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC): Medicaid plan for long-term care: in-home services, adult day care, assisted living services, and nursing home care for people who need that level of care. There is a waiting list for community services, managed through the ADRC.

Guide and places in Florida · Costs in Florida

Georgia

Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH). (877) 423-4746 · Apply

  • Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP): CCSP and SOURCE: For older adults or people with disabilities who would need a nursing home level of care: case management, adult day care, personal care at home, home-delivered meals, respite care, and services in licensed residential facilities. Apply through the ADRC.

Guide and places in Georgia · Costs in Georgia

Hawaii Med-QUEST (QUEST Integration)

Hawaii Department of Human Services – Med-QUEST Division. (800) 316-8005 · Apply

  • QUEST Integration – long-term services and supports (LTSS): For people who need a nursing home level of care: they can get care in a nursing home or in the community, for example personal care at home, adult day care, and services in assisted living, Community Care Foster Family Homes, and E-ARCHs. Medicaid does not pay for room and board in assisted living.

Guide and places in Hawaii · Costs in Hawaii

Idaho

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). (877) 456-1233 · Apply

  • Nursing Home Coverage (Medicaid): Can help pay part of the cost of a nursing home for people who qualify based on income and resources.
  • Aged and Disabled (A&D) Waiver: An alternative to a nursing home for older adults or people with disabilities who need that level of care: services at home and in the community, and also in assisted living and adult care homes.
  • Idaho Home Choice: Helps people who have been in a nursing home for at least 45 days move back to the community, with support during the transition.

Guide and places in Idaho · Costs in Idaho

Illinois

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). (800) 843-6154 · Apply

  • Community Care Program (CCP): From the Department on Aging, for people 60 or older who need long-term care: help at home, adult day care, and an emergency response button, among other services. Requires having $17,500 or less in non-exempt assets and applying for Medicaid.
  • Supportive Living Program (SLP): A Medicaid waiver that pays for services (personal care, housekeeping, help with medications, and 24-hour staff) in assisted living-style residences for people 65 or older, or 22 to 64 with a physical disability; the resident pays room and board.

Guide and places in Illinois · Costs in Illinois

Indiana

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). (800) 403-0864 · Apply

  • Indiana PathWays for Aging: Medicaid program for people 60 or older: each person chooses a health plan and has a care coordinator. It covers nursing home care and, through its waiver, home and community-based services such as adult day care, Adult Family Care, and assisted living. The waiver has had a waiting list since April 2024.
  • Health and Wellness Waiver: A Medicaid waiver for people 59 or younger who need a nursing home level of care; includes in-home services and assisted living. It shares a waiting list with PathWays.

Guide and places in Indiana · Costs in Indiana

Iowa

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS). (800) 338-8366 · Apply

  • HCBS Elderly Waiver: For people 65 or older who need a nursing home level of care: assisted living services, adult day care, help at home, home-delivered meals, respite care, and a case manager, among others. An information packet is available in Spanish, and there may be a waiting list.

Guide and places in Iowa · Costs in Iowa

Kansas KanCare

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) – KanCare. (800) 792-4884 · Apply

  • Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver: For people 65 or older who need a nursing home level of care: personal care at home, adult day care, and other services, plus some services in assisted living, Residential Health Care, Home Plus, or Boarding Care Homes (not room and board). Since July 2026, new applicants are placed on a waiting list. To start, call the ADRC.

Guide and places in Kansas · Costs in Kansas

Kentucky

Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS), Cabinet for Health and Family Services. (855) 306-8959 · Apply

  • Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver: For people who are 65 or older or have a physical disability and need a nursing home level of care: adult day care, a personal care attendant, home modifications, meals, and respite care. There is a waiting list, ordered by the date the complete application is received.

Guide and places in Kentucky · Costs in Kentucky

Louisiana

Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). (888) 342-6207 · Apply

Guide and places in Louisiana · Costs in Louisiana

Maine MaineCare

Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Office for Family Independence (OFI). (855) 797-4357 · Apply

Guide and places in Maine · Costs in Maine

Maryland

Maryland Department of Health (Maryland Medicaid); applications from people 65 or older are handled by the Maryland Department of Human Services. (800) 332-6347 · Apply

Guide and places in Maryland · Costs in Maryland

Massachusetts MassHealth

Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) – MassHealth. (800) 841-2900 · Apply

  • Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC): Daily help with personal care (bathing, dressing, moving around) and nursing oversight, provided by a certified agency; MassHealth can pay for it for people who qualify.
  • Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program: A MassHealth service that lets you hire your own personal care attendants for daily activities at home.

Guide and places in Massachusetts · Costs in Massachusetts

Michigan

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). (800) 642-3195 · Apply

  • MI Choice Waiver Program: Home and community-based services for people 65 or older, or 18 or older with a disability, who would otherwise need a nursing home.

Guide and places in Michigan · Costs in Michigan

Minnesota Medical Assistance (MA)

Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). (800) 657-3672 · Apply

  • Elderly Waiver (EW): Home and community-based services, including customized living in assisted living, for people 65 or older with Medical Assistance who would otherwise need a nursing home.

Guide and places in Minnesota · Costs in Minnesota

Mississippi

Mississippi Division of Medicaid. (800) 421-2408 · Apply

  • Assisted Living Waiver: Assisted living services for people 65 or older, or 21 to 64 with a disability, who need a nursing home level of care.
  • Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver: Home and community-based services (adult day care, personal care, respite care, home-delivered meals, and others) for people 65 or older, or 21 to 64 with a physical disability, who need a nursing home level of care.
  • Independent Living Waiver: A personal care attendant and home modifications for people who need a nursing home level of care.

Guide and places in Mississippi · Costs in Mississippi

Missouri MO HealthNet

Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) – Family Support Division. (855) 373-9994 · Apply

  • Aged and Disabled Waiver: Adult day care, respite care, help at home, and home-delivered meals for people 65 or older (or 63 to 64 with a physical disability) who need a nursing home level of care; request an assessment from DHSS, 1-866-835-3505.
  • Supplemental Nursing Care: A Family Support Division state program: monthly cash assistance for people 65 or older, or adults with a disability or blindness, who have low incomes and live in a residential care facility, in assisted living, or in certain nursing homes.

Guide and places in Missouri · Costs in Missouri

Montana

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). (888) 706-1535 · Apply

  • Big Sky Waiver (BSW): Home and community-based services, including assisted living, for people who are 65 or older or have a physical disability and need a nursing home level of care; there are waiting lists. To request it, call Mountain Pacific Quality Health, 1-800-219-7035.

Guide and places in Montana · Costs in Montana

Nebraska

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care. (855) 632-7633 · Apply

  • Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver: Home and community-based services for people who are 65 or older or have a disability and need a nursing home level of care; includes Supported Residential Living in assisted living (the person pays room and board).

Guide and places in Nebraska · Costs in Nebraska

Nevada Nevada Medicaid

Nevada Health Authority – Nevada Medicaid; applications are handled by the Division of Social Services (DSS). (800) 992-0900 · Apply

Guide and places in Nevada · Costs in Nevada

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). (844) 275-3447

  • Choices for Independence (CFI): Services at home and in licensed assisted living (ALR-RC or SRHCF), adult day care, and respite care for people with Medicaid who need a nursing home level of care; it does not pay for room and board.

Guide and places in New Hampshire · Costs in New Hampshire

New Jersey NJ FamilyCare

New Jersey Department of Human Services – Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS). (800) 701-0710 · Apply

Guide and places in New Jersey · Costs in New Jersey

New Mexico Turquoise Care

New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA). (800) 283-4465 · Apply

Guide and places in New Mexico · Costs in New Mexico

New York

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). (800) 541-2831 · Apply

  • Medicaid for long-term care (nursing home): Helps pay for a nursing home stay and other long-term services for people who qualify based on income, assets, and care needs.
  • Managed Long Term Care (MLTC): A plan that coordinates personal care, nursing, and therapies at home for people who need community-based services for more than 120 days; first, request an assessment from the New York Independent Assessor (855-222-8350).
  • Adult Day Health Care: An adult day center with medical care for people who qualify for a nursing home and still live at home.

Guide and places in New York · Costs in New York

North Carolina NC Medicaid

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) – NC Medicaid. (888) 245-0179 · Apply

Guide and places in North Carolina · Costs in North Carolina

North Dakota

North Dakota Health and Human Services (ND HHS) – Medical Services. (866) 614-6005 · Apply

Guide and places in North Dakota · Costs in North Dakota

Ohio

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM). (800) 324-8680 · Apply

  • PASSPORT Waiver: In-home services (personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day care, respite care, and others) for people 60 or older who need a nursing home level of care; run by the Ohio Department of Aging.
  • Assisted Living Waiver: Pays for care services in a participating residential care facility for people 21 or older; the resident pays room and board at a rate set by the state.

Guide and places in Ohio · Costs in Ohio

Oklahoma SoonerCare

Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). (800) 987-7767 · Apply

  • SoonerCare Long-Term Care (nursing homes): Helps pay for nursing home care for people who meet the medical and financial requirements; apply at your county OHS office.
  • ADvantage Waiver: An alternative to a nursing home for people 65 or older (or adults 19 to 64 with a physical disability): personal care at home, meals, adult day care, and assisted living at contracted facilities.

Guide and places in Oklahoma · Costs in Oklahoma

Oregon Oregon Health Plan (OHP)

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). (800) 699-9075 · Apply

Guide and places in Oregon · Costs in Oregon

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). (866) 550-4355 · Apply

Guide and places in Pennsylvania · Costs in Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico Plan Vital

Programa Medicaid del Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico; the government health plan is run by the Administración de Seguros de Salud (ASES). (787) 641-4224 · Apply

Guide and places in Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS); long-term care applications are handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Guide and places in Rhode Island · Costs in Rhode Island

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid

South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). (888) 549-0820 · Apply

  • Community Choices (CC) Waiver: Home and community-based services, such as personal care and adult day health care, for people who need a nursing home level of care; managed by the Community Long Term Care (CLTC) division.

Guide and places in South Carolina · Costs in South Carolina

South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS). (800) 597-1603 · Apply

Guide and places in South Dakota · Costs in South Dakota

Tennessee TennCare

Division of TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid). (855) 259-0701 · Apply

  • TennCare CHOICES: Long-term care for people 65 or older and adults with a physical disability: services at home and in the community or, if needed, in a nursing home.

Guide and places in Tennessee · Costs in Tennessee

Texas

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). (877) 541-7905 · Apply

  • STAR+PLUS: Medicaid through a managed care health plan for people 65 or older and adults with disabilities; includes service coordination and personal care at home.
  • STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS): For people who need a nursing home level of care and prefer to live at home or in the community: personal care, assisted living, adult foster care, respite care, and more.

Guide and places in Texas · Costs in Texas

Utah

Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Utah Medicaid. (866) 435-7414 · Apply

  • Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older (Aging Waiver): In-home services for people 65 or older who need a nursing home level of care; the process starts at the Area Agency on Aging.
  • New Choices Waiver: For people who already live in a nursing home, a licensed assisted living facility, or another medical facility and want to move to the community with Medicaid supports.

Guide and places in Utah · Costs in Utah

Vermont

Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA). (833) 840-0061 · Apply

  • Choices for Care: Long-term care Medicaid for people who need a nursing home level of care: they can get help at home, in an adult family home, in approved residential facilities, or in a nursing home.

Guide and places in Vermont · Costs in Vermont

Virginia Cardinal Care

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). (855) 242-8282 · Apply

Guide and places in Virginia · Costs in Virginia

Washington Apple Health

Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA); long-term care services are handled by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). (877) 429-7019 · Apply

  • COPES (Community Options Program Entry System): For people who need a nursing home level of care and prefer to live at home, in an adult family home, or in assisted living; it works together with Community First Choice, which covers personal care.

Guide and places in Washington · Costs in Washington

West Virginia

West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) – Bureau for Medical Services (BMS). (877) 716-1212 · Apply

  • Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW): Care at home and support in the community for people who would need a nursing home and prefer to stay home or return home.

Guide and places in West Virginia · Costs in West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) – ForwardHealth. (800) 362-3002 · Apply

  • Family Care: Medicaid long-term care program for older adults and adults with disabilities; a managed care organization (MCO) coordinates services at home or in licensed residential facilities.
  • IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct): A Medicaid long-term care option in which the person directs their own plan and chooses who helps them.

Guide and places in Wisconsin · Costs in Wisconsin

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Health – Division of Healthcare Financing (Wyoming Medicaid). (855) 294-2127 · Apply

Guide and places in Wyoming · Costs in Wyoming

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicaid pay for a nursing home?
Yes. In every state, Medicaid pays for nursing home care for people who need that level of care and meet the state’s income and asset limits. Medicare, on the other hand, only covers a short rehab stay after a hospital stay.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?
It depends on the state. Many states pay for care services in assisted living through a program called a waiver, but almost never for rent and meals. Find your state on this page to see which programs it has.
Where do you apply?
At your state’s Medicaid agency: its name, phone number and application link are below. The social worker at the hospital or nursing home can also help. For free guidance, call the Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116.

Sources: each state Medicaid agency’s official website and Medicaid.gov, checked on October 15, 2026. Programs change: confirm the requirements with your state’s agency. This page is for information only and is not legal advice.

More on this topic: how Medicaid pays for nursing home care, Medicaid, your home and your assets and Medicaid programs for care at home.

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