What Long-Term Care Costs in Minnesota
Medians from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey (2025 data, published March 2026). Any single provider can land higher or lower depending on location, room type, and level of care.
| Care Setting | Monthly | Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $6,573/mo | $78,876 |
| Memory Care (est.) | ≈$8,200/mo | ≈$98,400 |
| Adult Foster Care | $2,500–$5,500/mo | $30,000–$66,000 |
| Nursing Home (semi-private room) | $10,646/mo | $127,752 |
| Nursing Home (private room) | $13,870/mo | $166,440 |
| In-Home Care (44 hrs/week) | ≈$8,389/mo ($44/hr) | ≈$100,672 |
| Adult Day Health Care | $2,600/mo | $31,200 |
Memory care is an estimate (assisted living × 1.25); CareScout does not publish memory care medians. Adult foster care reflects typical Minnesota private-pay ranges, not a survey median.
Who Pays for Assisted Living in Minnesota
The care side of assisted living is called customized living in Minnesota's funding programs, and three Medicaid waivers pay for it. Room and board is always separate.
Private Pay
The default: income, savings, home-sale proceeds, or family contributions cover the monthly rate. Base rent is usually quoted separately from care levels, so a $4,500 apartment can become $7,000+ once personal care, medication management, and escort services are added. Always ask for the all-in monthly number at the care level being recommended.
Elderly Waiver (65+) — Customized Living
Minnesota’s largest payer of assisted living services for seniors. For people 65 and older who qualify for Medical Assistance and need a nursing-home level of care, the Elderly Waiver pays for the service side of assisted living under the name “customized living.” The resident still owes room and board, but the care charges — often the larger half of the bill — are covered. Access starts with a free MnCHOICES assessment from the county.
CADI and BI Waivers (Under 65) — Customized Living
Adults under 65 on the CADI or Brain Injury waiver can also use customized living in assisted living. Settings that began offering customized living on or after January 11, 2021 may serve these waivers only for people 55 and older, which makes 55 to 64 the main placement window. Under 55, look for a setting that was operating before that date.
Housing Support — the Room-and-Board Piece
Waivers pay for services, never rent. Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) fills that gap for low-income residents: as of July 1, 2026 it pays up to $1,221 per month toward room and board in assisted living and other licensed group settings. The resident may still owe a share based on income.
Long-Term Care Insurance and VA Benefits
Long-term care insurance policies typically reimburse assisted living once a care assessment triggers benefits — submit the community’s licensure and care plan with the claim. Veterans and surviving spouses may also qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, worth roughly $1,500–$2,700 per month toward care costs, on top of other funding.
What the Elderly Waiver Pays From October 2026
Monthly customized living limits by case mix, effective October 1, 2026. The limit is a ceiling; the case manager sets the actual rate from the service plan. Look up a rate with room and board.
| Case Mix | Customized Living | 24-Hour Customized Living |
|---|---|---|
| A | $3,081 | $5,483 |
| B | $3,507 | $6,328 |
| C | $4,115 | $7,444 |
| D | $4,248 | $7,769 |
| E | $4,685 | $8,644 |
| F | $4,828 | $8,965 |
| G | $4,981 | $9,323 |
| H | $5,620 | $10,474 |
| I | $5,769 | $10,767 |
| J | $6,150 | $11,516 |
| K | $7,164 | $13,450 |
| LLower needs | $2,375 | — |
| VVentilator dependent | $26,067 | $48,913 |
Know the Budget? Find an Opening
Send one request with the care needs, funding, and move date. Every matching assisted living provider in the county that takes email inquiries receives it, and you get a list of the ones who reply.
Free for families, case managers, and discharge planners.
Compare Licensed Providers by County
Every licensed Minnesota assisted living setting, built from state licensing records, with live openings where providers report them.
Minnesota Guides
- Social WorkersCounty, hospital, nursing home, mental health, home health, hospice, and VA. Pick where you work.
- Waiver Case ManagersElderly Waiver, CADI, DD, BI, and CAC. Pick the waiver and the kind of home.
- Leaving a FacilityNursing home, ICF, or IRTS. For relocation and Moving Home Minnesota coordinators.
- Assisted Living PlacementOpen beds by county and one inquiry to providers that take email. For the people placing care in Minnesota.
Common Questions
Minnesota Assisted Living Cost Questions
How much does assisted living cost in Minnesota in 2026?
The median is $6,573 per month ($78,876 per year) according to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey published in March 2026. Most communities charge between $5,250 and $7,900 per month depending on location, apartment size, and care level. Twin Cities metro communities generally price above Greater Minnesota.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Minnesota?
Yes — through customized living. The Elderly Waiver (65 and older) and the CADI and Brain Injury waivers (under 65) pay for the service side of assisted living for people who qualify for Medical Assistance and meet a nursing-home level of care. Room and board is paid separately, often with help from Housing Support.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
No. Medicare does not pay rent, meals, or the daily personal care that assisted living provides. It covers medical care a resident receives there, such as doctor visits, home health, and hospice, and up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay. In Minnesota, Medical Assistance pays for assisted living care through the Elderly Waiver, CADI, and Brain Injury waivers.
How much does the Elderly Waiver pay for assisted living in 2026?
Effective October 1, 2026, monthly customized living limits run from $3,081 (case mix A) to $7,164 (case mix K), and 24-hour customized living runs from $5,483 to $13,450. The case mix comes from the MnCHOICES assessment, and the limit is a ceiling rather than a guaranteed rate.
What is the difference between assisted living and customized living?
Same building, different vocabulary. “Assisted living” is the licensing and marketing term; “customized living” is what Minnesota’s waiver programs call the bundled services they purchase in that building. If a community says it accepts Elderly Waiver or CADI, it is providing customized living.
How do I get a waiver to help pay for assisted living?
Start with a MnCHOICES assessment — call your county or tribal nation’s aging and disability intake line and ask for one. It is free, and it determines both financial eligibility and level of care. For people 65+ already on Medical Assistance through a health plan (MSHO or MSC+), the plan’s care coordinator handles the assessment and authorization.
What does memory care cost in Minnesota?
Roughly $8,200 per month as an estimate — memory care typically runs about 25% above standard assisted living because of higher staffing and dementia care requirements. In Minnesota only settings with an Assisted Living with Dementia Care license may advertise memory care, and the Elderly Waiver can pay there, often at the higher 24-hour customized living limit.
Is assisted living cheaper than a nursing home in Minnesota?
Substantially. Assisted living’s $6,573 median compares with $10,646 per month for a semi-private nursing home room and $13,870 for a private room. That gap is why Minnesota’s waiver programs favor community settings whenever the care level allows it.
Sources: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, data collected July–November 2025, published March 2026; Minnesota Department of Human Services DHS-3945 (effective October 1, 2026) and Housing Support rates (effective July 1, 2026). Cost figures are medians and estimates for planning — confirm current pricing with the provider and program rules with your lead agency or care coordinator.