Paying for assisted living in Nevada
Most Nevada families start by paying for assisted living out of pocket. Communities typically charge a base monthly rate plus add-on fees for the level of personal care a resident needs, so two people in the same building can pay very different amounts. Costs also vary widely by area — Las Vegas, Reno, and rural Nevada all price differently. You can see current pricing for specific communities in the pricing tables below.
Common ways families cover the cost include personal savings and retirement income, proceeds from selling a home, long-term care insurance, and certain veterans benefits. Nevada Medicaid can help pay for the care portion in some assisted living settings, but never for room and board.
Does Nevada Medicaid cover assisted living in Nevada?
Nevada Medicaid does not pay for room and board in assisted living, but it can help cover personal-care services for eligible residents through two home- and community-based waivers administered by the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD):
- Waiver for the Frail Elderly (FE) — provides "augmented personal care" in licensed residential facilities for groups and assisted living settings, along with case management and other supports.
- Assisted Living (AL) Waiver — provides supportive services for eligible residents in qualifying assisted living settings.
These waivers are generally for Nevadans age 65 or older who need a nursing-facility level of care and meet Medicaid's income and asset limits. Slots are limited, so a waitlist is common. You apply for Medicaid through the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) via the Access Nevada portal, and you can contact ADSD to start the waiver intake process.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Nevada?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (non-medical) personal care, which is the bulk of what assisted living provides.
Medicare may still cover medical services a resident receives while living there, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and short-term skilled care or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospitalization, plus prescription drugs under Part D.
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare does and doesn't cover, Nevada's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — part of the ADSD Medicare Assistance Program — offers one-on-one counseling at no cost.
