Paying for assisted living in California
Most families in California pay for assisted living out of pocket, at least at first. Monthly fees typically bundle the apartment, meals, housekeeping, and a base level of personal care, with extra charges for higher levels of care or specialized services like memory support. Costs vary widely by region — the Bay Area and coastal metros run well above the state average, while inland areas are more affordable. The pricing tables below show current averages for communities in California so you can budget with real numbers.
Because assisted living is expensive, it's worth understanding every funding source you may qualify for before you pay privately. The sections below walk through Medi-Cal and Medicare, and the tables that follow summarize other ways to pay and the free resources available to California seniors.
Does Medi-Cal cover assisted living in California?
Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) does not pay for the room and board portion of assisted living. However, California offers the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW), which pays for the care services a resident receives inside a participating, licensed assisted living community — as an alternative to placing that person in a nursing home.
A few important details about the ALW:
- It covers care, not rent. The waiver pays for personal care and services; the resident is still responsible for room and board. SSI residents of a licensed community get California's board and care rate, $1,626.07 a month in 2026, and keep $182 of it for personal needs.
- It's only available in 15 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma.
- There is a long waitlist. In December 2025, 14,847 people were enrolled and 18,365 were waiting for a spot.
- The community must participate. Not every assisted living community accepts the ALW, so confirm before you apply.
Your Medi-Cal health plan may also pay for assisted living care through Assisted Living Facility Transitions, a CalAIM service offered in 40 of California's 58 counties, and you can use it while you wait for a waiver spot.
To use the ALW you must first be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal with no share of cost and need a nursing-home level of care. In 2026, that means monthly income under $1,836 and assets under $130,000 for a single person, not counting your home and one car. The asset limit is scheduled to drop to $21,000 no sooner than July 1, 2027. The sections below list every limit and how to apply.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in California?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, eating, and similar daily tasks). Medicare may still cover medically necessary services a resident receives while living there — doctor visits, short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a hospital stay, hospice, and durable medical equipment. For free, one-on-one help understanding what Medicare will and won't pay, contact California's Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP), listed in the resources below.
