Paying for assisted living in Colorado
In Colorado, assisted living communities (licensed as Assisted Living Residences) are mostly paid for out of pocket, at least at first. Families typically draw on a mix of savings, retirement income, the proceeds of a home sale, long-term care insurance, and veterans benefits. Monthly costs vary widely by region and by how much care a resident needs. See the pricing tables below for current local figures.
Once private funds are limited, some residents may qualify for state assistance with the care portion of their bill. Below is how Medicaid and Medicare fit in.
Does Health First Colorado (Medicaid) cover assisted living in Colorado?
Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, can help pay for the care and services delivered in certain assisted living settings, but it never pays for room and board (your rent and meals).
- The relevant pathway is the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver, which funds services in a state-licensed Alternative Care Facility (ACF) — the assisted living setting Medicaid recognizes. Covered services can include personal care, 24-hour protective oversight, medication assistance, and homemaker help.
- Eligibility is both financial and functional: you must meet Medicaid income and asset limits and need a nursing-facility level of care, which is assessed by a local Single Entry Point (SEP) agency.
- How to apply: first enroll in Health First Colorado (online, by phone, or at your county human services office), then contact your local SEP to request a functional assessment and ACF placement. Not every community accepts the waiver, so confirm before you move in.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Colorado?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (non-medical) care, such as help with bathing, dressing, or supervision — the core of what assisted living provides.
Medicare may still cover specific medical items a resident needs while living there, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs under Part D, and short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay.
For free, unbiased one-on-one help understanding what Medicare does and doesn't cover, contact Colorado's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), run by the Division of Insurance, at 1-888-696-7213.
