Paying for assisted living in Oklahoma
Most Oklahoma families pay for assisted living privately at first, using a mix of retirement income, savings, pensions, long-term care insurance, and sometimes proceeds from selling a home. Costs vary widely by community and by region of the state, so it helps to compare several options. You can review current pricing for communities in the pricing tables below.
Public programs may help cover the cost of personal-care and health services for those who qualify, but no program in Oklahoma pays for the room-and-board portion of assisted living.
Does SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid) cover assisted living in Oklahoma?
Standard SoonerCare (Oklahoma's Medicaid program) does not pay for assisted living. However, Oklahoma offers the ADvantage Waiver, a Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver administered through Oklahoma Human Services. The ADvantage program can help pay for care-related services, such as personal care, case management, and skilled nursing, for people who would otherwise need a nursing home but choose to live in a Medicaid-approved assisted living setting.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The waiver never pays for room and board, only for covered care services.
- You must meet SoonerCare's financial limits and be assessed as needing a nursing-facility level of care.
- ADvantage has limited slots, so qualified applicants may be placed on a waiting list.
To apply, contact the ADvantage/Medicaid Services line or your local Oklahoma Human Services office, and apply for SoonerCare through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Oklahoma?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (personal) care, in Oklahoma or any other state.
Medicare may still help with related medical needs, such as:
- Doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs
- Short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay
- Medically necessary home health or hospice care
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare covers, contact Oklahoma's Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIP), run by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
