The Tennessee Medicaid answer, verified
Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. Here is what that means in practice for Three Way families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.
Assisted living near Three Way compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and Tennessee's own median of $5,845, ranked #32 of 50 states.
A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Three Way families weighing skilled care start from.
In-home care averages $35 an hour nationally - about $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week for Three Way households.
Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. Whatever your state covers, one rule is nearly universal: waivers pay for care services, and the family still handles living costs - so a Medicaid path still needs a budget.
Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, and whether it helps with assisted living depends entirely on your state. Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. Nursing home care is covered in every state for those who qualify financially - assisted living is the state-by-state question.
The 2026 numbers
| Care type | 2025 national median | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| In-home care | $35/hour | Non-medical help at home - meals, bathing, companionship |
| Adult day care | $95/day | Daytime supervision and activities, evenings at home |
| Assisted living | $6,200/month | Housing plus daily-living help; care-level fees extra |
| Memory care | typically 20-40% above assisted living | Secured dementia care with higher staffing |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $9,581/month | 24/7 skilled medical care |
| Nursing home (private room) | $355/day | Same care, private room |
Find senior care options near Three Way
These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.
Tennessee: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file
| Question | Tennessee answer |
|---|---|
| Medicaid & assisted living | Yes - TennCare CHOICES (Groups 2 and 3) covers Assisted Care Living Facility (ACLF) services as a Community-Based Residential Alternative to nursing facility care, but the rule states 'Coverage shall not include the costs of Room and Board,' so the resident pays their own rent and meals. |
| State median, assisted living | $5,845/month (#32 of 50 states) |
| Licensing & inspection records | Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Division of Licensure and Regulation |
Tennessee does not use the term 'assisted living' on the license - the license type is 'Assisted-Care Living Facility' (ACLF), and a separate, lower-care 'Home for the Aged' (Residential Home for the Aged) license also exists.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
What this means for Three Way families
Home care keeps your parent in familiar surroundings and costs less at low hours; communities win on 24/7 coverage, social contact and predictable pricing. The wrong choice is usually the one made in a crisis - which is why running these numbers early matters more than getting them perfect.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
Common questions
How much does in-home care cost?
About $35 an hour at the 2025 national median - roughly $80,000 a year at 44 hours a week. Since the 2025 survey, non-medical caregivers are tracked as a single category, so quotes for 'homemaker' versus 'home health aide' services should no longer differ much for non-medical help.
How much does assisted living cost?
The U.S. median is $6,200 a month ($74,400 a year) per the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey - before care-level fees, which add hundreds more at higher need levels. State medians vary widely; this guide shows your state's number and rank on every page.
How do I check a facility's inspection record?
Every state has a licensing or certification agency that publishes inspection results and complaint histories - this guide links your state's agency on every page. Search every finalist before any deposit: violations, complaint patterns and how the operator responded tell you more than the tour.
Can a facility evict my parent?
Yes - discharge policies allow it for reasons like funds running out, care needs exceeding what the license covers, or behavior issues. Read the discharge clause before signing and get the funds-run-out answer in writing; involuntary moves are the outcome families regret most.
Should my parent stay home with help or move to assisted living?
Run the hours math first: in-home care at about $35 an hour serves people who need help, not round-the-clock supervision. Below about 30-40 hours a week, home usually costs less; past that - or when safety needs someone always present - assisted living's $6,200 median often buys more coverage. The right answer follows the care needs, not the buildings.
Find senior care options near Three Way
These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.
Prices in nearby cities
Tiptonville · Toone · Townsend · Tracy City · Trenton · Trezevant · Trimble · Troy · Tullahoma · Tusculum · Unicoi · Union City