One of the most shocking realities for seniors is the cost of long-term care. As adults plan for their future care or face the nursing home with their elderly parents or other loved ones, many are surprised to learn about the high costs. However, much like the cost of living, long-term care costs vary depending on where you live.

Each year, Genworth puts out a Cost of Care Survey, which outlines care costs for different types of long-term care facilities across the nation based on thousands of surveys. The cost varies by location, type of service, who provides the service, and when they provide it.

Many seniors who are planning for their long-term care already know where they want to live, whether it’s their current location or a new place for retirement, while others might take care costs into account when planning for their future residence. That is, they might be looking to move to an area with lower nursing home costs. Either way, it’s crucial for them to be aware of their potential long-term care expenses.

At the end of the day, long-term care planning and Medicaid planning strategies vary greatly depending on the state. In addition to a difference in cost, each state also has its own Medicaid rules and regulations. Fortunately, we’re here to help you and your clients keep everything straight when it comes to long-term care planning, whether making plans for the future or in times of crisis. Contact us to learn more or get started today!

In order to provide some context, we’ve outlined the most expensive and least expensive states for nursing home care based on the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, which provides the information we use for 2020 planning. The rankings below are based on the median monthly nursing home costs for each state, though the actual cost may be higher or lower depending on the specific location within the state.

Top 10 Most Expensive States for the Nursing Home in 2020

#10 – Vermont

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $11,285
Semi-Private Room: $10,722
Assisted Living Facility: $5,338
Home Health Aide: $5,196

#9 – Delaware

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $11,361
Semi-Private Room: $10,897
Assisted Living Facility: $6,035
Home Health Aide: $4,671

#8 – West Virginia

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $11,528
Semi-Private Room: $10,707
Assisted Living Facility: $3,750
Home Health Aide: $3,432

#7 – New Jersey

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $11,650
Semi-Private Room: $10,646
Assisted Living Facility: $6,400
Home Health Aide: $4,767

#6 – North Dakota

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $11,986
Semi-Private Room: $11,875
Assisted Living Facility: $3,405
Home Health Aide: $5,331

#5 – New York

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $12,349
Semi-Private Room: $11,613
Assisted Living Facility: $4,630
Home Health Aide: $4,957

#4 – Massachusetts

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $13,212
Semi-Private Room: $12,473
Assisted Living Facility: $5,640
Home Health Aide: $5,243

#3 – Hawaii

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $13,368
Semi-Private Room: $11,650
Assisted Living Facility: $4,375
Home Health Aide: $5,220

#2 – Connecticut

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $13,916
Semi-Private Room: $12,699
Assisted Living Facility: $4,880
Home Health Aide: $4,576

#1 Most Expensive – Alaska

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $30,219
Semi-Private Room: $30,219
Assisted Living Facility: $6,000
Home Health Aide: $5,716

Top 10 Least Expensive States for the Nursing Home in 2020

#10 – Mississippi

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $7,087
Semi-Private Room: $6,844
Assisted Living Facility: $3,524
Home Health Aide: $3,527

#9 – Iowa

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,878
Semi-Private Room: $6,342
Assisted Living Facility: $4,078
Home Health Aide: $4,767

#8 – Illinois

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,844
Semi-Private Room: $5,931
Assisted Living Facility: $4,170
Home Health Aide: $4,576

#7 – Alabama

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,783
Semi-Private Room: $6,388
Assisted Living Facility: $3,250
Home Health Aide: $3,432

#6 – Texas

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,418
Semi-Private Room: $4,867
Assisted Living Facility: $3,750
Home Health Aide: $4,004

#5 – Kansas

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,175
Semi-Private Room: $5,627
Assisted Living Facility: $4,473
Home Health Aide: $4,195

#4 – Arkansas

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $6,083
Semi-Private Room: $5,505
Assisted Living Facility: $3,175
Home Health Aide: $3,623

#3 – Missouri

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $5,688
Semi-Private Room: $5,061
Assisted Living Facility: $2,881
Home Health Aide: $4,195

#2 – Louisiana

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $5,676
Semi-Private Room: $5,435
Assisted Living Facility: $3,650
Home Health Aide: $3,241

#1 Least Expensive – Oklahoma

Private Room at a Nursing Home: $5,627
Semi-Private Room: $4,867
Assisted Living Facility: $3,518
Home Health Aide: $4,242