A nursing home in Florida typically costs about $9,000 to $12,000 per month – roughly $108,000 to $144,000 per year – for a semi-private or private room at private-pay rates, with costs varying by facility and region. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial nursing-home care; for most families, long-term care Medicaid is the only government program that pays for an extended nursing-home stay once eligibility requirements are met.
A nursing home in Florida costs between $8,000 and $12,000 per month — that’s $96,000 to $144,000 per year. Most families are not prepared for this. And Medicare, despite what many people believe, covers very little of it.
This guide breaks down the actual costs, how they vary by region, and your realistic options for paying for long-term care in Florida.
Florida Nursing Home Costs at a Glance
Sources: Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Florida AHCA, Medicaid Planning Assistance. Figures reflect 2025/2026 averages; actual costs vary by facility and location.
Cost by Type of Care
| Type of Care | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $10,645 | $127,740 | 24/7 skilled nursing, meals, room, medication management, therapy |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $9,338 | $112,056 | Same as private, shared room |
| Assisted Living Facility | $4,000–$5,500 | $48,000–$66,000 | Help with daily activities, meals, social programs. NOT skilled nursing. |
| Home Health Aide (44 hrs/wk) | $5,148 | $61,776 | Personal care at home. No medical services unless paired with home health. |
| Adult Day Health Care | $1,560–$2,000 | $18,720–$24,000 | Daytime supervision, meals, social activities, some therapy |
Cost by Florida Region
Nursing home costs vary significantly by location. Larger metro areas generally cost more:
| Region | Private Room (Monthly) | Semi-Private (Monthly) | Assisted Living (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay / Hillsborough | $10,500–$12,000 | $9,000–$10,500 | $4,000–$5,500 |
| Lakeland / Polk County | $9,500–$11,000 | $8,500–$9,500 | $3,500–$4,500 |
| St. Petersburg / Pinellas | $10,000–$11,500 | $9,000–$10,000 | $4,000–$5,000 |
| Sarasota / Bradenton | $10,500–$12,500 | $9,500–$11,000 | $4,500–$6,000 |
| Orlando / Central FL | $10,000–$11,500 | $9,000–$10,500 | $4,000–$5,500 |
| South Florida (Miami-Dade) | $11,000–$14,000 | $10,000–$12,000 | $4,500–$7,000 |
How to Pay for a Nursing Home in Florida
There are really only five ways to pay for nursing home care. Here is what each one actually covers:
1. Private Pay (Out of Pocket)
You pay the full cost yourself from savings, investments, or income. This is how most nursing home stays begin.
Covers: Everything — no restrictions on facility or level of care.
Reality: At $10,645/month, a $250,000 retirement account lasts about 23 months. Most families transition to Medicaid after exhausting savings.
2. Medicare (Very Limited)
Medicare is not long-term care insurance. It covers skilled nursing only, and only under strict conditions.
Covers: Up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay. Days 1–20 are fully covered. Days 21–100 require a daily copay of ~$217 (2026).
Does NOT Cover: Custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, eating), long-term nursing home stays, assisted living, or home care for daily activities. After day 100, Medicare coverage ends completely.
3. Medicaid (Long-Term Care Medicaid / ICP)
Medicaid is the only government program that covers long-term nursing home care in Florida. But you must qualify.
Covers: Nursing home care, home and community-based services (HCBS) through SMMC-LTC, personal care, adult day health, therapy, medical equipment — for as long as you need it.
Requirements: Income under $2,982/month (or use a QIT), assets under $2,000, and nursing-facility level of care needed.
The Catch: You must spend down nearly all your assets to qualify. Without planning, this means losing everything. With planning, you can protect your home, spouse’s assets, and more. See our Medicaid planning guide.
4. Long-Term Care Insurance
If you purchased a policy years ago, it may cover a significant portion of nursing home costs.
Covers: Varies by policy — typically $150–$300/day for 2–5 years. Some policies cover assisted living and home care as well.
Limits: Premiums are expensive ($2,000–$6,000/year), most policies have an elimination period (30–90 days you pay out of pocket first), and benefits eventually run out. If you don’t already have a policy, it may be too late or too expensive to get one.
5. VA Benefits (Veterans)
Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides a monthly stipend to help pay for care.
Covers: Up to ~$2,431/month for a veteran (2026), ~$1,565 for a surviving spouse. Can be used for nursing home, assisted living, or home care.
Limits: Must be a wartime veteran with care needs. Asset limits apply. Does not cover the full cost of nursing home care — supplements other payment sources.
What Happens If You Can’t Afford a Nursing Home?
If a parent or spouse has just entered a nursing home and you are facing a bill you cannot pay, you have options:
- Apply for Medicaid immediately. Even if you think you won’t qualify, talk to a Medicaid crisis planning attorney first. There are legal strategies that can accelerate eligibility.
- Establish a Qualified Income Trust if income exceeds $2,982/month. This is required in Florida and can be set up quickly.
- Protect the family home with a Lady Bird deed before applying. This has no waiting period and no penalty.
- Spend down strategically — use excess assets on home improvements, a vehicle, prepaid funeral, and debts rather than letting them go to the nursing home.
- Explore alternatives — SMMC-LTC (home and community-based services), adult day care, and assisted living are all significantly cheaper than nursing home care and may be appropriate depending on the level of care needed.
Nursing Home vs. Alternatives: Cost Comparison
| Option | Monthly Cost | Level of Care | Medicaid Covers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Home (Private) | $10,645 | 24/7 skilled nursing | Yes (ICP) |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $9,338 | 24/7 skilled nursing | Yes (ICP) |
| Assisted Living | $4,000–$5,500 | Daily living help, no skilled nursing | Services only (SMMC-LTC), not room & board |
| Home Health Aide (44 hrs/wk) | $5,148 | Personal care at home | Yes (SMMC-LTC) |
| Adult Day Health Care | $1,560–$2,000 | Daytime supervision & activities | Yes (SMMC-LTC) |
| Spouse or Family Caregiver | $0 (unpaid) or contract | Varies | SMMC-LTC consumer-directed option allows payment to family caregivers |
Plan Now — Before the Crisis
The average cost of a 3-year nursing home stay in Florida is over $380,000. Without planning, most families lose nearly everything. With planning, you can protect your home, your spouse’s savings, and qualify for Medicaid coverage while preserving your family’s financial security.
Facing a Nursing Home Bill You Can’t Afford?
Our attorneys help Florida families navigate nursing home costs and Medicaid eligibility every day. Whether you are planning ahead or dealing with an immediate crisis, we can evaluate your situation and explain your options.
Call (813) 501-5071 for a free consultation, or schedule online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Florida?
Private-pay nursing-home costs in Florida generally run about $9,000 to $12,000 per month, or roughly $108,000 to $144,000 per year, depending on the facility, whether the room is semi-private or private, and the region. Larger metro areas tend to cost more. These are private-pay rates; the figure a family actually pays can be lower once Medicaid, VA benefits, or long-term care insurance are applied.
Who pays for nursing home care in Florida?
There are essentially five payment sources: private pay (out of savings and income), Medicare (only short-term skilled care, not long-term custodial care), long-term care Medicaid (the only government program that covers extended nursing-home stays, subject to income and asset limits), long-term care insurance (if a policy was purchased earlier), and VA Aid and Attendance benefits for eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses. Most families begin with private pay and transition to Medicaid after spending down.
Will Medicare pay for a nursing home in Florida?
Only on a limited, short-term basis. Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay – days 1-20 are fully covered and days 21-100 require a daily copay. Medicare does not cover custodial long-term care (help with bathing, dressing, and eating) or any nursing-home stay beyond 100 days. After that, coverage ends and the family must turn to private pay, Medicaid, or other sources.
How much will Medicaid pay for a nursing home in Florida?
Once a person qualifies for Florida long-term care (ICP) Medicaid, the program covers the cost of nursing-home care for as long as it is needed. The resident generally must contribute most of their monthly income toward the cost (their “patient responsibility”), keeping only a small personal-needs allowance, and Medicaid pays the remaining balance to the facility. Qualifying requires meeting the income limit (or using a qualified income trust) and the asset limit.
What happens if you cannot afford a nursing home in Florida?
Families facing a nursing-home bill they cannot pay still have options. With proper planning, you can qualify for long-term care Medicaid while protecting the homestead, a community spouse’s share of assets, and other exempt resources – even in a crisis. Strategies can include spending down to exempt assets, qualified income trusts for over-income applicants, and spousal protections. Because Florida treats this guidance as the practice of law, it should be reviewed with a licensed elder law attorney; this page is general information, not legal advice.
How families actually pay for this
Very few families pay these rates out of pocket for long. Medicaid is the main route, and the planning has to be done correctly to work.
- Florida Medicaid planning how eligibility is structured
- Crisis planning when the move to a facility has already happened
- Qualified Income Trust when income is over the Medicaid limit
- Medicaid estate recovery what the state can claim afterward
What the Quoted Nursing Home Rate Doesn’t Include
The $9,000 to $12,000 monthly figures you see quoted are base rates for room, board, and basic nursing care. They rarely reflect the full bill a family actually receives. Before you budget around a facility’s advertised rate, ask what is billed separately, because these add-ons can push the real monthly cost several hundred to a few thousand dollars higher.
Common extra charges include incontinence supplies, specialized wound care or wound vac supplies, a private-duty companion or sitter for a resident who needs one-on-one supervision, cable television and phone hookups, transportation to outside medical appointments, durable medical equipment that Medicare or Medicaid does not cover, prescription copays, and personal grooming services like haircuts. Some private-pay facilities also charge a one-time community fee or require a security deposit at admission, separate from the first month’s rent.
Billing method matters too. Most facilities quote a monthly figure but actually bill by the day, and a partial month at move-in or move-out is prorated rather than charged at the full monthly rate. Ask for the facility’s current daily rate and a written list of what is included versus billed as an extra, not just the marketing brochure number, so you can compare facilities on an apples-to-apples basis.
Private-pay rates also tend to increase annually. Facilities typically notify residents of a rate increase once a year, often in the mid-single-digit percentage range, sometimes higher. If you are budgeting savings against a projected length of stay, build in an annual increase rather than assuming the rate you are quoted today will hold for two or three years.
Does the rate change once a resident is on Medicaid?
Yes. Once long-term care Medicaid is approved, the facility no longer bills the private-pay rate. Instead, the resident pays a set amount toward the cost based on their monthly income, known as the patient responsibility amount, and Medicaid pays the facility the difference between that amount and the Medicaid reimbursement rate, which is generally lower than the private-pay rate.
What is a community fee or admission deposit?
Some private-pay nursing homes and assisted living facilities charge a one-time, non-recurring fee at move-in, separate from the first month’s rent, intended to cover administrative costs of admission. It is not universal and is more common at higher-end private-pay facilities than at facilities that primarily serve Medicaid residents. Ask before signing an admission agreement whether one applies and whether any portion is refundable.
Are nursing home costs tax deductible?
Nursing home costs can sometimes qualify as a deductible medical expense on a federal income tax return if the primary reason for the stay is medical care rather than custodial care alone, and only to the extent total qualifying medical expenses exceed a percentage-of-income threshold. Because this depends on the resident’s specific medical condition and paperwork from the facility, it is worth reviewing with an accountant or tax preparer rather than assuming it applies.
Will the facility give a written estimate before admission?
You can ask for one, and you should. Florida facilities are generally willing to provide an itemized breakdown of the base daily or monthly rate plus commonly billed extras for a prospective resident. Get this in writing before signing the admission agreement so there are no surprises on the first invoice.