Question 1 of 5
How Old Is the Person Who Needs Care?
Minnesota uses a different waiver at 65.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medical Assistance pay for assisted living in Minnesota?
Yes, through a waiver. Medical Assistance on its own does not pay assisted living, but the Elderly Waiver (65 and older) and the CADI and Brain Injury waivers (under 65) pay for customized living — the care part of assisted living. Room and board is paid separately by the resident, or by Housing Support up to $1,221 a month when income is low.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
No. Medicare does not pay for a long-term stay in assisted living. It can cover a short skilled nursing or transitional care stay after a qualifying hospital stay, which is often when families start looking for assisted living.
How much does the Elderly Waiver pay for assisted living?
It depends on the case mix assigned in the MnCHOICES assessment. 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.
What is a MnCHOICES assessment?
MnCHOICES is the county assessment that decides whether someone needs a nursing-home level of care and sets their waiver budget. Ask the county or call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433. In a hospital or transitional care unit, the social worker can request it.
Does Alternative Care pay for assisted living?
No. Alternative Care helps people 65 and older with lower income and assets pay for care at home, and Minnesota law excludes assisted living from it. When savings run low, the usual path is Medical Assistance plus the Elderly Waiver.
Can adults under 65 use a waiver for assisted living?
Yes, through CADI or the Brain Injury waiver. Settings that began offering customized living on or after January 11, 2021 may serve these waivers only for people 55 and older, so adults under 55 need a setting that was operating before then.
What does assisted living cost without help?
The Minnesota median is about $6,573 a month (2026, CareScout Cost of Care Survey). Memory care usually costs more. Prices vary widely by setting, so ask each provider for its monthly rate.
Sources: Minnesota Department of Human Services DHS-3945 (Elderly Waiver customized living limits, effective October 1, 2026); DHS Combined Manual 0020.22 (Housing Support rate, effective July 1, 2026); Minn. Stat. 256B.0913 (Alternative Care); CareScout Cost of Care Survey (2026). This tool gives general guidance, not an eligibility decision.