Long-Term Care Cost Estimator
Project what a period of long-term care could cost by the time you might need it.
Cost projection
Projected total for 3 years of care
$451,685
Assisted living community runs about $74,400/year today. At 4.5% inflation, care starting in 15 years opens at $143,985/year ($11,999/month).
- Cost today (2025 median basis)
- $74,400/yr
- First year of care (2041)
- $143,985/yr
- Monthly at start of care
- $11,999
- Total for the care period
- $451,685
Projected cost per year of care
View data table
| Annual cost | |
|---|---|
| Yr 1 | $144K |
| Yr 2 | $150K |
| Yr 3 | $157K |
What this may mean for you
Medicare doesn't cover ongoing custodial care, so this bill lands on savings, long-term-care insurance, home equity, or — after assets are spent down — Medicaid. Worth pricing while options are open: traditional LTC insurance and hybrid life-insurance policies both get dramatically cheaper (and easier to qualify for) in your 50s than your 60s.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and may not reflect your complete financial or tax situation.
Understanding this calculator
Long-term care is the largest unfunded risk in most retirement plans. About half of 65-year-olds will need some paid care; most needs are modest, but a multi-year nursing stay can run well into six figures per year. The uncomfortable fact many discover late: Medicare covers only brief skilled care after a hospital stay — not the years of help-with-daily-living that most long-term care actually is.
Costs also inflate faster than most spending, historically around 3–5% a year, and vary hugely by region. Projecting a realistic figure — then deciding how you'd cover it among savings, home equity, insurance, or family — is the planning step this estimator supports. It's a conversation worth having while every option is still open.
Assumptions and methodology
- Base costs are 2025 national medians from the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey: in-home care $80,080/yr (44 hrs/wk), adult day $24,700, assisted living $74,400, nursing semi-private $114,975, private $129,575.
- The base cost grows at your care-inflation rate until care begins, and continues inflating through the care period; the total sums each projected year.
- The regional adjustment is a simple multiplier — actual local costs vary widely; look up your area for precision.
- Insurance, Medicaid eligibility, and family care contributions are not modeled.
Official sources
Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.
Common questions
Doesn't Medicare pay for nursing homes?
Only short rehabilitative stays (up to 100 days, with conditions) after a qualifying hospital admission. Ongoing custodial care is paid by you, long-term-care insurance, or — after spending down assets — Medicaid.
How long does care typically last?
Averages hover around 2–3 years for those who need paid care, but the tail is long — planning for the average alone understates the risk that matters.
Keep going
- Income GapCompare your expected retirement expenses with your guaranteed income and see how much your savings need to cover.Calculator
- InflationSee what today's expenses could cost in the future — and what future dollars are worth today.Calculator
- How Long Will Savings Last?See how long your savings could last at a given monthly withdrawal, with inflation and returns included.Calculator
- Medicare and IRMAA BasicsParts, premiums, enrollment windows, and the income cliffs that raise them.Guide
Want a second set of eyes on this?
If you'd like to talk through what these numbers mean for your situation, you can schedule a free, no-pressure conversation. No products, no pitch — just questions answered.