Paying for assisted living in Maryland
Most Maryland families begin by paying for assisted living out of pocket. Private funds, retirement income, long-term care insurance, the proceeds from selling a home, and help from family are the most common ways people cover the monthly fee when they first move in. Costs vary widely depending on the part of the state, the size of the apartment, and how much daily care a resident needs. You can compare current pricing for specific communities in the pricing tables below.
Over time, some residents who spend down their savings may become eligible for help through Maryland Medicaid. It is worth understanding those programs early, because they have waiting lists and detailed eligibility rules.
Does Maryland Medicaid (the Community Options Waiver) cover assisted living in Maryland?
Maryland Medicaid does not pay for room and board in assisted living, but the state's Community Options (CO) Waiver (formerly the Waiver for Older Adults) can help pay for the personal-care and support services a resident receives in a participating assisted living community.
Key points to know:
- The waiver is for adults who need a nursing-home level of care but can be safely served in the community, including in assisted living.
- It has medical, technical, and financial eligibility rules, with income and asset limits that change each year.
- The community must participate in the waiver and accept Medicaid's payment rates.
- Room and board is still the resident's responsibility — the waiver covers care, not rent or meals.
To get on the registry, call Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465. You apply for Medicaid itself through Maryland Health Connection or your local Department of Social Services. The state's Increased Community Services program may help certain people whose income is slightly too high for the standard waiver.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Maryland?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for the ongoing custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, medications, and meals) that defines assisted living.
Medicare may still cover other things while someone lives in assisted living, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay, and some home health or hospice services when criteria are met.
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare does and does not cover, contact Maryland's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), run by the Maryland Department of Aging.
