Most and Least Expensive States for Retiree Healthcare Costs
How much does retiree healthcare cost? The answer, to a large degree, depends on where you live. Healthcare costs have many components and are not universal. Costs also vary on an individual basis, which is something that no one can know with accuracy. However, state average costs are a good place to start. At the very least, you can get an idea as to which states are typically more expensive if you end up needing healthcare. For example, the cost of nursing home care in Alaska is more than double that found in any other state.
To help determine which are the most and least expensive states for retiree healthcare costs, GOBankingRates sourced data from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2018 regarding the average monthly cost of senior care. The study looked at the monthly costs for homemaker services, a home health aide, adult day healthcare, an assisted living facility, a semi-private room in a nursing home and a private room in a nursing home. Additionally, the average monthly Medicare premium was factored in, based on data sourced from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2019 Medicare Advantage plan report.
Your actual retiree healthcare costs will, of course, vary from the state averages listed here, but you can use the results to gauge which costs may affect you the most. Note that states are not necessarily high- or low-cost across the board. North Dakota, for example, has one of the lowest monthly costs for an assisted living facility, but other costs make it the 10th-most expensive state overall in terms of retiree healthcare costs. Similarly, Iowa is the 10th-most affordable state overall but has above-average home healthcare costs.
Last updated: Sept. 9, 2020
50. Florida
Average monthly Medicare premium: $13.80
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,804
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,909
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,463
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,152
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,064
49. South Carolina
Average monthly Medicare premium: $22.21
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,623
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,813
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,300
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,418
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,209
48. Georgia
Average monthly Medicare premium: $26.10
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,623
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,813
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,300
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,100
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,342
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,768
47. Alabama
Average monthly Medicare premium: $40.68
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,241
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,241
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $758
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,271
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,279
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,661
46. Mississippi
Average monthly Medicare premium: $39.72
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,241
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,241
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $758
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,493
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,692
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,087
45. Arkansas
Average monthly Medicare premium: $33.63
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,432
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,609
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,733
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,037
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $5,353
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $5,986
44. Louisiana
Average monthly Medicare premium: $43.54
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,051
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,051
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,365
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,550
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $5,232
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $5,542
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43. Oklahoma
Average monthly Medicare premium: $36.20
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,143
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,300
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,325
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $4,639
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $5,293
42. Utah
Average monthly Medicare premium: $31.71
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,195
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,008
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,350
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,083
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,604
41. Iowa
Average monthly Medicare premium: $18.92
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,576
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,767
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,353
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,847
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,083
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,479
40. Missouri
Average monthly Medicare premium: $36.29
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,004
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,820
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $2,844
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $5,019
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $5,543
39. Nebraska
Average monthly Medicare premium: $18.84
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,481
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,576
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,555
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,844
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,905
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,266
38. North Carolina
Average monthly Medicare premium: $39.74
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,527
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,766
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,192
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,693
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,950
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,711
37. Texas
Average monthly Medicare premium: $44.73
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,813
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $758
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,795
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $4,798
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,540
36. Kentucky
Average monthly Medicare premium: $40.48
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,909
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,463
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,520
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,844
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,604
35. Tennessee
Average monthly Medicare premium: $46.76
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,613
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,766
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,452
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,920
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,388
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,844
34. West Virginia
Average monthly Medicare premium: $52.11
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,146
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,241
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,300
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,619
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $10,281
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $11,072
33. Virginia
Average monthly Medicare premium: $37.37
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,004
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,517
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,451
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,452
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $8,517
32. Indiana
Average monthly Medicare premium: $33.85
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,004
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,195
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,842
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,385
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,859
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $8,243
31. Nevada
Average monthly Medicare premium: $44.44
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,195
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,560
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,228
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,262
30. Kansas
Average monthly Medicare premium: $52.45
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,004
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,760
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,556
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $5,414
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $5,865
29. Colorado
Average monthly Medicare premium: $36.13
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,767
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,910
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,625
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,000
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,892
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,000
28. California
Average monthly Medicare premium: $29.70
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,957
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,957
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,679
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,365
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,817
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27. Delaware
Average monthly Medicare premium: $33.63
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,052
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,385
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,797
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $5,350
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $10,494
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $10,950
26. South Dakota
Average monthly Medicare premium: $48.05
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,576
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,767
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,538
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,616
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,072
25. Arizona
Average monthly Medicare premium: $47.51
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,338
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,433
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,004
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,800
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $6,494
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,908
24. New Mexico
Average monthly Medicare premium: $58.22
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,432
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,813
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,217
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,250
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,285
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,619
23. Illinois
Average monthly Medicare premium: $59.95
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,290
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,567
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,030
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $5,916
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $6,753
22. Wyoming
Average monthly Medicare premium: $45.50
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,767
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,416
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,235
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,178
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,543
21. Idaho
Average monthly Medicare premium: $60.26
Homemaker services monthly cost: $3,813
Home health aide monthly cost: $3,813
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,600
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,475
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,574
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $8,045
20. Ohio
Average monthly Medicare premium: $64.36
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,004
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,099
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,322
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,278
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,118
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,908
19. Maine
Average monthly Medicare premium: $34.58
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,767
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,957
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,383
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,950
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,429
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $10,098
18. Connecticut
Average monthly Medicare premium: $48.61
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,099
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,385
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,842
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,700
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $12,623
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $13,733
17. New Hampshire
Average monthly Medicare premium: $42.24
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,767
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,148
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,701
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,675
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $10,342
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $11,102
16. Montana
Average monthly Medicare premium: $54.59
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,576
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,576
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,468
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,919
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $7,006
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $7,310
15. Pennsylvania
Average monthly Medicare premium: $68.84
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,315
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,408
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,750
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,612
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $10,114
14. Wisconsin
Average monthly Medicare premium: $64.28
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,481
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,576
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,408
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,300
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,334
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,346
13. Maryland
Average monthly Medicare premium: $64.62
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,097
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,242
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,733
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,673
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,231
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,673
12. New Jersey
Average monthly Medicare premium: $42.98
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,576
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,576
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,950
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $6,065
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $10,646
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $11,863
11. New York
Average monthly Medicare premium: $56.21
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,690
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,767
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,625
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,185
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $11,756
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $12,189
10. North Dakota
Average monthly Medicare premium: $54.00
Homemaker services monthly cost: $5,148
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,148
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,419
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,315
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $11,027
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $11,690
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9. Rhode Island
Average monthly Medicare premium: $64.92
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,862
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,148
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,625
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,350
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,821
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,733
8. Vermont
Average monthly Medicare premium: $49.26
Homemaker services monthly cost: $5,148
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,148
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,947
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,475
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,901
7. Michigan
Average monthly Medicare premium: $84.40
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,195
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,385
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,733
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $3,850
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,562
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,125
6. Washington
Average monthly Medicare premium: $67.08
Homemaker services monthly cost: $5,339
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,339
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,408
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $5,135
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $8,669
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,718
5. Massachusetts
Average monthly Medicare premium: $83.18
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,910
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,167
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,444
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $5,495
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $12,015
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $12,775
4. Hawaii
Average monthly Medicare premium: $80.17
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,767
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,720
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,647
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $5,500
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $12,167
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $13,657
3. Oregon
Average monthly Medicare premium: $97.88
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,862
Home health aide monthly cost: $4,957
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,983
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,593
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,277
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $9,977
2. Minnesota
Average monthly Medicare premium: $101.46
Homemaker services monthly cost: $5,148
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,529
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $1,798
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $4,000
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $9,125
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $10,188
1. Alaska
Average monthly Medicare premium: N/A — The state doesn’t offer Medicare Advantage plans. Residents must use a prescription drug plan.
Homemaker services monthly cost: $4,957
Home health aide monthly cost: $5,148
Adult day healthcare monthly cost: $2,281
Assisted living facility monthly cost: $6,300
Nursing home semi-private room monthly cost: $29,291
Nursing home private room monthly cost: $27,573
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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the most and least expensive states for retiree healthcare costs by analyzing all 50 states based on the following criteria: (1) The average monthly Medicare premium, based on data sourced from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2019 Medicare Advantage plan report. To calculate the state average Medicare premium, we took the average of monthly consolidated premiums from each county in the state. In order for Medicare health plans to qualify for the study, only local HMO, local PPO and regional PPO health plans were considered (excluding, for example, private fee-for-service plan [PFFS] premiums); Medicare health plans included both “Basic” and “Enhanced Alternative” drug benefit types; and Medicare health plans had to offer Medicare Part D drug coverage. (2) The average monthly cost of senior care, broken down into costs for homemaker services, home health aide, adult day healthcare, assisted living facility, semi-private nursing home room and private nursing home room, sourced from Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2018. All data was compiled on Aug. 12, 2019.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Most and Least Expensive States for Retiree Healthcare Costs