Paying for assisted living in North Dakota
Most North Dakota families pay for assisted living out of pocket at first, usually from savings, Social Security, a pension, the sale of a home, or a long-term care insurance policy. Costs vary widely depending on the community, the size of the apartment, and how much daily help a resident needs. You can compare current pricing for communities across the state in the pricing tables below.
It helps to plan early. Knowing which programs you might qualify for, and how room and board is treated separately from care, makes it easier to budget for the long term.
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover assisted living in North Dakota?
North Dakota Medicaid can help pay for the care services a resident receives in an assisted living setting, but it never pays for room and board (your rent, meals, and basic living costs). Help comes mainly through:
- The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver, for people who would otherwise need nursing-home care.
- The state-funded Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED) and Expanded SPED (Ex-SPED) programs, which fund personal care and support services so people can stay in less intensive settings.
These programs have both financial limits (income and assets) and a functional-need assessment. Not every community participates, so ask whether a specific community accepts the waiver or SPED before you commit.
To check eligibility and apply, start with North Dakota Medicaid or call the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at 1-855-462-5465 for help finding the right program.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in North Dakota?
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 medical care a resident needs while living there, such as:
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- A short, medically necessary stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay
- Medicare-covered home health or hospice services when eligible
For free, unbiased Medicare counseling, contact North Dakota's Senior Health Insurance Counseling (SHIC) program through the North Dakota Insurance Department at 1-888-575-6611.
