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.

Read More: 21 Hacks To Reduce Your Healthcare Costs This Year

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: Dec. 8, 2020

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

More From GOBankingRates

• What Not To Do While Trying To Get Out of Debt
• Are You Spending More Than the Average American on 25 Everyday Items?
• Investors Bank’s Checking Accounts: Helping You Do More With Your Money
• Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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.