Paying for assisted living in Vermont
Most Vermont families pay for assisted living out of pocket at first, using a mix of savings, retirement income, the sale of a home, long-term care insurance, or help from family. Costs vary quite a bit by community and by region of the state, and you can see current pricing in the tables below on this page.
Assisted living sits between independent living and a nursing home: you get help with daily activities, meals, and medication management, but not the round-the-clock skilled nursing a nursing facility provides. Knowing where your needs fall helps you plan how to pay.
There are public programs that can help with the care portion of the bill once private funds run low. They never cover room and board, but they can meaningfully reduce what you owe for services.
Does Choices for Care cover assisted living in Vermont?
Yes, in many cases. Vermont's long-term care Medicaid program, Choices for Care (CFC), can pay for the care and services you receive in a qualifying assisted living residence or residential care home through its Enhanced Residential Care (ERC) option. Important points:
- Room and board is never covered. Medicaid pays only for personal care, supervision, and related services. You remain responsible for rent and meals.
- You must meet clinical and financial eligibility. Generally you need a nursing-home level of care (or moderate-needs criteria) plus income and asset limits set by the state.
- The community must participate. Not every assisted living residence accepts Choices for Care, so confirm before you choose.
To apply, contact your local DAIL Long-Term Care Clinical Coordinator or the Department of Vermont Health Access. A clinical assessment and a financial review are both part of the process, and some moderate-needs services have a waiting list.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Vermont?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial (personal) care, which is the bulk of what assisted living provides. Medicare may still help with related medical costs, such as:
- Doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs (Parts A, B, and D)
- A short, medically necessary stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospitalization
- Medicare-covered home health or hospice care, when you qualify
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare does and does not cover, contact Vermont's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), available through the statewide Senior HelpLine.
