Assisted Living in Florida

Florida's Medicaid program for older adults and people with disabilities. It pays for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and other medical services. It does not pay assisted living rent, but you need it to get the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program, which can pay for your care in assisted living.

The limits below apply to people who need nursing home care or long-term care services at home or in assisted living. Florida also has a Medicaid group for people 65 and older or disabled with lower income who do not need long-term care. If you get SSI, Social Security handles your Medicaid, so you do not apply with the state.

If you are married and your spouse stays at home, your spouse can keep a share of your savings and may get part of your income when you get nursing home care or long-term care services.

A Medicaid program, run through Long-Term Care health plans, for people who need the level of care a nursing home provides. In an assisted living facility that works with your plan, it can pay for personal care, housekeeping, help with medications, periodic nursing checks, social activities, and staff on site 24 hours a day. It can also pay for care at home, adult day care, and nursing home care.

It does not pay room and board. You pay that to the facility from your own income. When Florida works out how much of your income goes toward your care, you keep enough to pay the facility's basic room and board rate plus a personal allowance. The program is not an entitlement like regular Medicaid, and it does not cover doctor visits or hospital stays.

Space is limited, so most people wait. After a phone screening, you get a priority score and rank from 1 to 8. People in ranks 1 and 2 are not put on the wait list. Florida takes people off the list each month based on how frail they are, not how long they have waited. Some current Medicaid members skip the screening and wait list, such as people who have lived in a Florida nursing home for at least 60 days in a row and want to move out, and people Adult Protective Services places in assisted living as high risk.

A state-funded cash payment for people with very low income who live in an assisted living facility, an adult family care home, or a mental health residential treatment facility. It adds to your income so you can pay the facility the monthly rate the state sets.

In 2026, the state rate for an assisted living resident is $1,018.40 a month. You pay the facility from your income, keep $160 a month for personal needs, and OSS makes up the difference, up to $184.40 a month. Family or others can add money toward your care, but it must be paid to the facility, not to you. It must be voluntary and cannot be a condition of your care.

A state program that pays for services to help older adults stay in their own homes. Services can include personal care, homemaker help, home-delivered meals, adult day care, respite for caregivers, home nursing, emergency alert devices, and case management.

People whom Adult Protective Services finds to be victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and who need services right away, are served first.

Helps families care for an older relative who lives with them in a private home instead of a nursing home. Every participant gets $160 a month toward their support and care. Some people also get a special subsidy for things like incontinence supplies, medications, wheelchairs, ramps, a home health aide, or home nursing.

The federal health insurance program for people 65 and older. Part A covers hospital stays and a short period of skilled nursing care after a hospital stay. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical equipment. Medicare does not pay for assisted living rent or for help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. In 2026, Part B costs $202.90 a month with a $283 yearly deductible, and the Part A hospital deductible is $1,736.

Plans sold by private insurers that replace Original Medicare. They must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many add drug, dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Plans, costs, and doctor networks vary by county.

Drug plans that add prescription coverage to Original Medicare. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs and its own premium. Most Medicare Advantage plans already include drug coverage.

A federal program, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, that pays most Part D premiums, deductibles, and drug copays. People who get Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically.

Florida Medicaid programs that pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. Anyone in QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 also qualifies for Extra Help.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) pays Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI-1) pay the Part B premium.

Monthly income for retired workers, based on what you earned during your working years. You can spend it on anything, including assisted living. You need at least 40 work credits, which is about 10 years of work. Benefits can start at 62, and the monthly check is larger if you wait until full retirement age or later.

A monthly federal payment for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very little income and savings. Getting SSI usually qualifies you for Medicaid as well.