Assisted Living Maryland

Maryland offers access to the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River and Atlantic Ocean, making it a great choice for seniors who want to be close to the water. But the state isn’t all sailing opportunities and crab dinners; there are many more practical reasons to choose a Maryland retirement. Almost 16% of the state’s 1.6 million residents are aged 65 and older, and the senior population has access to nationally ranked hospitals such as Johns Hopkins, which has a specialized geriatrics team. This is one reason why the state ranked ninth for health care in the 2022 Senior Living Report. 

For affordability, Maryland ranks 13th. Although the cost of living here is higher than average, the cost of health care is low. Additionally, Social Security benefits are exempt from state income tax and there’s a generous deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older. Tax dollars go toward programs that help seniors, such as discounted public transportation, and the cost of assisted living in the state averages $4,900 per month. 

This guide offers insight into the costs of assisted living and other forms of senior care in Maryland. It also has information about resources available to help seniors, and the rules and regulations that govern assisted living in the state.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Maryland

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that assisted living in Maryland costs an average of $4,900 per month. This is $400 higher than the national average of $4,500. When compared to its neighbors, Maryland’s costs are about midrange. Pennsylvania and West Virginia are more affordable, with costs of $4,100 and $4,160, respectively. In Virginia, seniors pay $350 more than those in Maryland, or $5,250. Prices in the District of Columbia average $5,948, while Delaware has the highest costs in the region at $5,995 per month.

The cost of assisted living varies among surveyed cities in Maryland, from a low of $4,630 in Hagerstown to a high of $5,248 in Cumberland. In Baltimore, prices are slightly lower than the statewide average at $4,750 per month. Seniors in Salisbury pay $80 more than the Maryland median, with prices there averaging $4,980. 

In addition to assisted living, Maryland’s older residents can access a range of senior living options that may better suit their budget and circumstances. At $1,928 per month, adult day health care is an affordable choice for people who only need assistance during the day. Both home care and home health care cost $5,148 per month in Maryland, which is almost $250 more than the $4,900 average for assisted living. Nursing home care is the least affordable option. A semiprivate room costs $10,342 per month, while private rooms average $12,167. 

Does Medicaid Cover Assisted Living in Maryland?

Maryland Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance (MA), doesn’t directly fund assisted living. Instead, the state offers waiver programs that help older adults who wish to remain living at home or in the community. 

Two of these waivers can be used to provide services in assisted living facilities: the Community Options (CO) Waiver and the Increased Community Services (ICS) Waiver. They’re available to people who meet certain functional and financial eligibility criteria and services that are provided include case management, nutritionist services and behavioral consultation. 

What Assisted Living Services Are Covered by Medicaid in Maryland? 

The CO and ICS waiver programs provide similar services and supports, but the ICS program is specifically designed to help people living in nursing homes transition back to the community. 

Covered services include personal care, assistive technology, supports planning and nutritionist services. Assisted living is listed as a separate benefit for both waiver programs and covers the care you receive in these residential facilities, such as meals, activity programs and case management. Although not specifically stated, Medicaid waiver programs typically don’t pay for room and board.

Assisted Living Waiver Programs in Maryland

Community Options Waiver

The Community Options Waiver is also known as the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver. It’s designed to help people who need a nursing home level of care remain living in the community. In addition to delaying or preventing an individual’s entry into a nursing home, this waiver is also available to people who currently reside in a nursing home and want to return to their home or an assisted living community. 

The waiver is available to people aged 18 and over who meet the level of care required for placement in a nursing home. Applicants must also meet the financial eligibility requirements for waiver programs in the state. 

The services offered through the program include assisted living, case management, dietitian and nutritionist services and behavioral consultations. Recipients are also eligible to receive Medicaid services, which can include personal care, nurse monitoring and transition services. Not all assisted living facilities participate in the program, and those that do must be willing to accept Medicaid payment rates. 

People currently living in a nursing home can apply by contacting Maryland Access Point at (844) 627-5465. The program isn’t currently accepting applications from people living in the community, but you can contact the above number to be put on the waiting list. 

Increased Community Services Program

The Increased Community Services Program is specifically designed to help people living in nursing homes move back into the community. This could mean returning to their home, or moving into the home of a relative or an assisted living facility. The program provides transitional services to support recipients as they move, as well as long-term care services to support them in the community.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must currently reside in a nursing home and have been living there for at least 3 months. In addition, they need to have been Medicaid eligible for at least 30 days of those three months. Applicants must also require a nursing home level of care and meet the financial eligibility criteria for Maryland Medicaid’s waiver programs. An individual’s application won’t be approved if the cost of their care in the community will exceed what Medicaid pays for the nursing home care they’re currently receiving. 

Services provided through the program include personal assistance, care planning, nurse monitoring and assistive technology. Assisted living is listed as a benefit of the program and includes the services generally provided in these facilities, such as meals and social programming. 

Seniors can apply for the program by contacting Maryland Access Point at (844) 627-5465. 

How To Know If You’re Eligible for Medicaid in Maryland

As Medicaid is designed to help low-income people access health care, your financial situation is the primary criteria for eligibility. You must meet income and asset limits that differ depending on your circumstances and the Medicaid program you’re applying for. 

To be eligible for Maryland’s waiver programs, applicants must have an income of less than $2,523 per month or $30,276 per year. Married couples who are both applying are allowed to earn $60,552 a year. The asset limit is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples when both spouses are applying. 

If only one spouse is applying, the asset limit is $2,000 for the applicant. However, the non-applicant spouse can keep up to $137,400 in assets. To meet Medicaid’s spousal impoverishment provisions, Maryland also lets the applicant transfer some of their income to their spouse as a minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance. 

Medicaid doesn’t count all assets when calculating your eligibility. Personal belongings, an automobile and irrevocable burial trusts are exempt. A home is also exempt if your spouse still lives there. Maryland has alternative pathways to qualify for Medicaid for people who don’t meet the financial limits. This includes spending down assets and income. 

2022 Medicaid Income Limits for Seniors in Maryland

*Per month

There are other criteria that applicants must meet to be eligible for Medicaid. Those applying for the waivers must be:

• A Maryland resident
• A U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the immigration status requirements
• In need of a nursing home level of care

How To Apply for Medicaid in Maryland

People in need of Medical Assistance long-term services and supports, such as waiver programs, can apply online through the myMDThink portal. You can also submit a paper application in person or by mail. People living in Baltimore City or Anne Arundel, Baltimore or Prince George’s counties can return applications to the Bureau of Long Term Care. Applications from other areas of the state can be returned to a local Department of Social Services office. Application forms are available for download on the Medicaid website.

Information You Will Need 

The Maryland Department of Health requires documentation to process your application. You may be asked to provide:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Proof of residency
• Income statements, including banks statements and federal tax returns
• Proof of assets, including current statements of stocks, life insurance policies and trusts
• Private health insurance cards, including Medicare
• Social Security number
• Power of attorney or legal guardianship documents 

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid 

Maryland has resources available for people who need help applying for Medicaid. Counselors available through the State Health Insurance Program can provide face-to-face guidance at offices throughout the state. In addition, Maryland provides detailed information on its Medicaid website and through the Long Term Care guidebook.

Does Medicare Cover Assisted Living in Maryland?

The short answer is that no, Medicare does not cover the cost of assisted living in Maryland. Assisted living facilities are considered to be a “residential setting” and not a “clinical setting,” (think nursing homes). While Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of care received in an assisted living community, it does still cover things like approved medications, doctor visits, medical equipment, etc., just like it would if you lived at home.

For more information about when Medicare can be used to pay for senior living in a nursing home, and for Medicare-related resources, see our guide to Nursing Homes in Maryland.

Other Financial Assistance Options for Assisted Living in Maryland

Seniors who are not eligible (due to location, financial situation, or other factors) for other types of financial assistance, do still have some options. See the table below for an overview of some of the most common ways to make Assisted Living affordable.

Free and Low-Cost Resources for Seniors in Maryland

Older adults in Maryland can access a variety of resources aimed at helping them as they age. The state government provides financial assistance for assisted living and prescription medication. State and local governments also have programs to help people find local resources, access transport and companionship and help resolve issues in long-term care facilities. 

COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living in Maryland

The following information is based on research done on several government websites, including coronavirus.maryland.gov and cdc.gov. These rules apply to nursing homes and other types of senior living facilities. We’ve most recently updated this data on 4/22/22, but since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving pandemic, contact your local senior living facility or Area Agency on Aging for more specific and up-to-date information.

Visitation Policies

Outings & Social Activities

COVID-19 Safety Measures for Staff and Residents

Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Maryland

In Maryland, assisted living facilities are licensed and overseen by the Office of Health Care Quality, a division of the Department of Health. This office ensures that facilities comply with the laws and regulations that govern long-term care facilities in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions