Paying for assisted living in Kentucky
Most Kentucky families pay for assisted living privately at first, usually from savings, the sale of a home, retirement income, a pension, or a long-term care insurance policy. Costs vary widely depending on the community, the region of the state, and how much help a resident needs day to day. You can see current pricing for the communities in this area in the pricing tables below.
Because assisted living is largely private-pay, it helps to understand what public programs will and will not cover before you tour communities or sign an agreement.
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover assisted living in Kentucky?
Kentucky Medicaid does not pay for assisted living the way it does for nursing home care. Like every state, Kentucky Medicaid never pays for room and board in an assisted living setting.
Kentucky's main long-term care waiver, the Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver, helps Medicaid members who need a nursing-facility level of care receive services such as personal care, adult day health, homemaker help, and respite. However, the HCB Waiver is designed for people living in their own home or a loved one's home — it generally does not cover residents living in a licensed assisted living community.
A few notes on eligibility and applying:
- You must be enrolled in Kentucky Medicaid and meet the waiver's level-of-care criteria.
- Waiver slots are limited, so there can be a waiting list.
- Apply for Medicaid online through kynect, by phone, or at a local DCBS office.
Some people choosing residential care turn to a personal care home, a different, more basic level of care that may accept a state supplement combined with SSI.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Kentucky?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (personal) care — the help with bathing, dressing, and meals that defines assisted living.
Medicare may still cover related medical needs while someone lives in assisted living, such as:
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- Short-term skilled nursing or rehab after a qualifying hospital stay
- Medicare-covered home health or hospice services when eligible
For free, unbiased help understanding Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and prescription coverage, contact Kentucky's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers one-on-one counseling at no charge.
