Paying for assisted living in Illinois
Most families in Illinois pay for assisted living privately at first, usually from savings, retirement income, the proceeds of a home sale, or a long-term care insurance policy. Costs vary widely depending on the part of the state, the size of the apartment, and how much day-to-day help a resident needs. You can compare current pricing for communities in your area using the pricing tables below.
Private pay is not the only option, though. Once savings are spent down, some residents qualify for help through Illinois Medicaid or veterans benefits. It helps to understand what each program does and does not cover before you choose a community.
Does the Supportive Living Program (Medicaid) cover assisted living in Illinois?
Illinois does not pay for traditional assisted living through Medicaid, but it offers a close alternative called the Supportive Living Program (SLP), a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. SLP covers the care and support services delivered in a participating Supportive Living facility, such as:
- Personal care and help with daily activities
- Medication assistance and health monitoring
- Housekeeping, laundry, and meals
- Social and recreational activities, plus 24-hour staff
Medicaid never pays for room and board. In the Supportive Living Program, the resident pays the room-and-board cost (generally from their monthly income), while Medicaid covers the service portion.
To qualify, you must be a Medicaid-eligible Illinois resident who is 65 or older, or age 22–64 with a physical disability, and need a level of care that could otherwise mean a nursing home. Apply for Medicaid through the state's ABE portal, by phone, or at a local Family Community Resource Center, and choose a facility enrolled in the Supportive Living Program.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Illinois?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for the ongoing custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, and other daily tasks) that defines assisted living. That is true everywhere, including Illinois.
Medicare may still cover medical services a resident receives while living there, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay, and eligible home health or hospice care.
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare covers, contact Illinois's Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), the state's Medicare counseling service, at 1-800-252-8966.
