Help with nursing-home cost & payment

Northhaven Care is a free matching service, not a care provider, a placement agency, or a government program. We help families understand typical nursing-home and skilled-nursing costs, compare ways to pay, and read the basic rules in plain language.

“Skilled nursing” means round-the-clock care from licensed nurses and nursing assistants. Some people need it after a hospital stay for short-term rehab. Others need it for long-term care. The cost and payment rules can be very different for each situation.

We do not give medical, legal, or financial advice. We can help you sort the information and point you to official sources like Medicare.gov Care Compare, your state Medicaid office, and your local long-term-care ombudsman.

Costs vary by state, facility, room type, and level of care. A wide U.S. planning range for nursing-home or skilled-nursing care is often about $7,000 to $13,000+ per month, and some places cost more.

A private room usually costs more than a shared room. Short-term rehab after a hospital stay may be billed differently from long-term custodial care, which is help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating.

These are estimates only, not quotes. The real number depends on the facility and on how the care is paid. When you compare places, ask for a written estimate and ask what is included.

Many families use more than one payment source. The right mix depends on the person’s coverage, income, savings, and the type of care needed.

Medicare may cover short-term skilled nursing or rehab after a qualifying hospital stay, often up to 100 days. Cost-sharing usually begins after day 20, and coverage rules can change with the situation.

Medicaid may help pay for long-term nursing-home care for people who qualify based on income and assets. Rules vary by state. Long-term-care insurance, if a person has it, may also help with some costs. Some families pay out of pocket for part or all of care.

If you want, we can help you understand these options at a high level and compare facilities that fit your payment situation.

When you compare nursing homes, look at more than one number. The Medicare CMS Five-Star rating has three parts: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Staffing is often the most telling part, especially RN hours per resident per day.

“Staffing ratio” means how many residents each nurse or aide cares for. A lower ratio can mean staff may have more time for each person, though it is not the only factor.

Also check whether the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay, and whether it has a special unit for rehab, memory care, or complex medical needs. If a facility promises a guaranteed bed, price, or outcome, be cautious. No one can guarantee that.

A short tour can still be useful if you ask focused questions. Bring a notebook and ask the same questions at each place so it is easier to compare.

Ask about staffing, wound care, therapy, meals, visiting rules, discharge planning, and who to call if there is a concern. Ask for the daily rate, what extra fees may apply, and when rates can change.

If the person is being discharged from a hospital, ask whether the facility can meet the current care needs and whether it has space. But remember: a hospital discharge does not require you to choose blindly. It is normal and wise to compare options.

If you want to move forward, you can use our free matching + information service to narrow options by state, care type, and language. Some participating facilities pay us a flat fee to be matched. That never changes what your family pays, and it never affects our guidance about Medicare or Medicaid.

We only ask contact-intent details, such as first name, a way to reach you, state, who the care is for, the general kind of care, and preferred language. We do not ask for medical records, diagnosis details, Medicare or Medicaid numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or immigration documents.

Eligibility for care and payment is separate from immigration status, and help is often available in the family’s language. You can also use our guides or get matched when you are ready: Browse guides or Get matched.