Long-Term Care Cost Guide

The Texas Medicaid answer, verified

Yes - the STAR+PLUS managed care program's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver pays for assisted living SERVICES in a personal care facility licensed by HHSC, but 'STAR+PLUS HCBS program members are responsible for their room and board costs and, if applicable, copayment for AL.' Here is what that means in practice for University Park families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.

Assisted living near University Park compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and Texas's own median of $5,666, ranked #34 of 50 states.

A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number University Park 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 University Park households.

Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, and whether it helps with assisted living depends entirely on your state. Yes - the STAR+PLUS managed care program's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver pays for assisted living SERVICES in a personal care facility licensed by HHSC, but 'STAR+PLUS HCBS program members are responsible for their room and board costs and, if applicable, copayment for AL.' Nursing home care is covered in every state for those who qualify financially - assisted living is the state-by-state question.

The honest Texas answer, verified against official sources: Yes - the STAR+PLUS managed care program's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver pays for assisted living SERVICES in a personal care facility licensed by HHSC, but 'STAR+PLUS HCBS program members are responsible for their room and board costs and, if applicable, copayment for AL.' Eligibility is strict - income and asset limits apply, and there is typically a five-year look-back on gifts and transfers - so families planning a Medicaid path should talk to an elder law attorney early.

Single-story senior living community exterior with covered entrance and garden beds
Wide, well-lit corridor in a care community with handrails on both walls
Bright private room in a senior community with bed, armchair and family photos on the dresser
Clipboard with a facility tour checklist resting on a lobby table

The 2026 numbers

Care type2025 national medianWhat it covers
In-home care$35/hourNon-medical help at home - meals, bathing, companionship
Adult day care$95/dayDaytime supervision and activities, evenings at home
Assisted living$6,200/monthHousing plus daily-living help; care-level fees extra
Memory caretypically 20-40% above assisted livingSecured dementia care with higher staffing
Nursing home (semi-private)$9,581/month24/7 skilled medical care
Nursing home (private room)$355/daySame care, private room
The U.S. median for assisted living is $6,200 a month; a semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month; in-home care averages $35 an hour.Source: CareScout / Genworth 2025 Cost of Care Survey (published March 2026)

Find senior care options near University Park

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.

A Place for MomFree advisor - largest U.S. senior living networkSee communities with A Place for Mom
Caring.comDirectory with reviews and pricing guidanceBrowse communities on Caring.com

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.

Texas: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file

QuestionTexas answer
Medicaid & assisted livingYes - the STAR+PLUS managed care program's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver pays for assisted living SERVICES in a personal care facility licensed by HHSC, but 'STAR+PLUS HCBS program members are responsible for their room and board costs and, if applicable, copayment for AL.'
State median, assisted living$5,666/month (#34 of 50 states)
Licensing & inspection recordsTexas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Long-Term Care Regulation

Texas issues two license types: a Type A facility serves residents who do not need routine attendance during sleeping hours and can follow directions in an emergency; a Type B facility serves residents who need staff help to leave the building, cannot follow directions in an emergency, and require nighttime attendance.

Yes - the STAR+PLUS managed care program's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver pays for assisted living SERVICES in a personal care facility licensed by HHSC, but 'STARSource: Texas Medicaid / official source
Inspection and complaint records for Texas senior care facilities are public.Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Long-Term Care Regulation

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.

Weekly medication organizer and pill bottles on a kitchen counter

What this means for University Park families

The home-versus-community math is mostly hours: in-home care at $35 an hour serves people who need help, not supervision. Past roughly 40 hours a week - or any point where safety needs someone present around the clock - assisted living at $6,200 a month usually costs less than equivalent home coverage.

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

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.

Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?

It depends entirely on your state: 36 states cover some assisted living services through waivers, 9 cover them in limited settings, and 6 have no assisted living pathway at all. Even where covered, waivers typically pay for care services while the family handles room and board. This guide's Medicaid page gives your state's verified answer.

What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?

Assisted living provides housing plus help with daily activities - meals, medication, bathing - at a median $6,200 a month. Nursing homes provide 24/7 skilled medical care at a median $9,581 a month for a semi-private room. The dividing line is medical need: wound care, feeding tubes and ventilators are nursing-home territory.

What questions expose a bad facility fastest?

Three: What is the caregiver-to-resident ratio on nights and weekends? How long has the current administrator been here? What happens when private funds run out? Communities that answer all three plainly and in writing are the shortlist.

Find senior care options near University Park

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.

A Place for MomFree advisor - largest U.S. senior living networkSee communities with A Place for Mom
Caring.comDirectory with reviews and pricing guidanceBrowse communities on Caring.com

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.

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