Assisted Living in Virginia

Virginia's Medicaid program, called Cardinal Care, for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. It pays for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental care, and other medical services. It does not pay rent or meals in an assisted living facility.

Medicaid also pays for long-term care in a nursing home, or at home through the CCC Plus Waiver and PACE, listed below. For that care, the income limit is higher: $2,982 a month for one person in 2026. You must also need nursing home level care, based on a screening. If your spouse stays at home, your spouse can keep up to $162,660 in assets.

A monthly payment from the state and your city or county that helps people with low income pay for an assisted living facility or adult foster care home. It is Virginia's supplement to SSI. The payment covers room and board, including a furnished room, meals and snacks, linens, and housekeeping. It also covers help with bathing, dressing, and grooming, help with medicines, and general supervision.

Since January 1, 2026, the highest monthly rate Virginia will approve for an AG resident's facility is $2,130. The facility must accept that rate as full payment for the care the AG covers. The rate can be up to 15 percent higher in Northern Virginia (Planning District 8). You also keep a personal needs allowance of $87 a month for clothing and other personal costs. Your grant is the facility rate plus the allowance, minus your own income, such as SSI or Social Security.

Not every assisted living facility accepts the AG, and space is limited. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) publishes a list of facilities that may accept it. Call the facility to confirm.

A Medicaid program for older adults and people with disabilities who need nursing home level care but want to stay at home. It can pay for a personal care aide, respite care to give family caregivers a break, adult day health care, an emergency call button, private duty nursing, home changes, and assistive technology. You can use an agency aide or hire and direct your own. The waiver has no waiting list.

The waiver does not pay rent or meals. Virginia's rules let it pay for personal care, up to five hours a day, for residents of a licensed assisted living facility that serves four or fewer people. People who get an Auxiliary Grant cannot enroll in the waiver.

A program that gives adults 55 and older all of their medical care and long-term care through one local team, so they can keep living in the community. It is built around an adult day health center. PACE covers doctor visits, prescriptions, therapy, meals, personal care, home health care, respite care, hospital and nursing home care when needed, and rides to care.

You can enroll in PACE while living in an assisted living facility, but you cannot get PACE and an Auxiliary Grant at the same time. PACE does not pay rent or meals in an assisted living facility.

The federal health insurance program for people 65 and older. Part A covers hospital stays and a short period of skilled nursing care after a hospital stay. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical equipment. Medicare does not pay for assisted living rent or for help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. In 2026, Part B costs $202.90 a month with a $283 yearly deductible, and the Part A hospital deductible is $1,736.

Plans sold by private insurers that replace Original Medicare. They must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many add drug, dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Plans, costs, and doctor networks vary by county.

Drug plans that add prescription coverage to Original Medicare. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs and its own premium. Most Medicare Advantage plans already include drug coverage.

A federal program, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, that pays most Part D premiums, deductibles, and drug copays. People who get Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically.

Virginia Medicaid programs that pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. The table shows each program's 2026 monthly income limit. The limits already include the first $20 of income, which is not counted. Anyone in a Medicare Savings Program also gets Extra Help with drug costs.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) pays Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) pay the Part B premium. Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI) pays the Part A premium for people who lost Social Security disability benefits and premium-free Part A because they went back to work.

Monthly income for retired workers, based on what you earned during your working years. You can spend it on anything, including assisted living. You need at least 40 work credits, which is about 10 years of work. Benefits can start at 62, and the monthly check is larger if you wait until full retirement age or later.

A monthly federal payment for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very little income and savings. Getting SSI usually qualifies you for Medicaid as well.