Wisconsin offers Medicaid waivers to pay for care costs in an assisted living facility for seniors aged 65 and older who fall under the income limit of $18,075 a year for individuals and $24,353 for couples. The asset limit is $2,000. However, this does not include the applicant’s home if it’s valued under $906,000 in equity and is the applicant’s primary residence.

Non-Medicaid assistance programs in Wisconsin

Seniors who do not qualify for Medicaid may still qualify for one of Wisconsin’s state-funded assistance programs. These include the Wisconsin Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Exceptional Expense Supplement, which provides a monthly payment to seniors who require at least 40 hours of in-home care or supportive services in an assisted living community, and the SeniorCare Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, which allows seniors to purchase their medications for a small co-pay. 

Average costs of assisted living in Wisconsin

According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, assisted living in Wisconsin costs an average of $4,600 per month, just $100 more than the national average of $4,500. Cities with higher average costs include the Milwaukee area, which averages $5,324 per month, and Oshkosh, which averages $5,157. Costs are lower in Wausau, where assisted living costs $4,125 per month, and LaCrosse, which averages $4,263.