Long-Term Care Cost Calculator

Estimate long-term care costs for home health, assisted living, or nursing home with inflation projection.
Years of Coverage
Care Type
Inflation Protection

Current Annual Cost

$135,000.00

Nursing Home (Private)

Projected Cost at Age 80

$282,660.02

per year

Total 3-Year Cost

$873,673.86

Est. Monthly Premium

$1,820.15

if purchased now

Care Type Comparison (at Age 80)

Home Health Aide$131,908.01/yr | $407,714.47 total
Assisted Living$157,033.34/yr | $485,374.37 total
Nursing Home (Private)$282,660.02/yr | $873,673.86 total

Cost Details

Current Annual Cost$135,000.00
Years Until Age 8025
Projected Annual Cost at 80$282,660.02
Daily Benefit Needed$774.41
Total 3-Year Cost$873,673.86
Est. Annual Insurance Premium$21,841.85
Est. Monthly Insurance Premium$1,820.15

2026 National Median Costs

  • Home Health Aide: $63,000/year
  • Assisted Living Facility: $75,000/year
  • Nursing Home (Private Room): $135,000/year
  • 70% of people over 65 will need some form of long-term care

Use the Long-Term Care Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Our Long-Term Care Cost Calculator helps you estimate potential expenses for home health care, assisted living, or nursing home stays, projecting these costs into the future with inflation. Understanding these future costs is crucial for financial planning, as long-term care can be a significant expense. For 2026, the national median cost for a private room in a nursing home is projected to be around $115,000 annually, while assisted living is projected at $64,000 annually, and home health aide services at $34 per hour.

This calculator uses an inflation-adjusted projection based on your chosen care type, duration, and a customizable annual inflation rate (defaulting to 3%). The formula applied is: Future Cost = Current Median Cost * (1 + Annual Inflation Rate)^Number of Years. We then multiply this projected annual cost by the estimated duration of care to provide a total estimated expense.

When using this calculator, remember that these are national median estimates; actual costs vary significantly by geographic location, facility amenities, and specific care needs. A common mistake is underestimating the potential duration of care or neglecting to account for increasing care intensity over time. Always consider consulting with a financial advisor specializing in long-term care planning.

Example: Estimating 5 years of Assisted Living starting in 2026

  1. 1 Input: Care Type: Assisted Living, Starting Year: 2026, Duration: 5 years, Annual Inflation Rate: 3%.
  2. 2 Calculation: 2026 Estimated Assisted Living Cost: $64,000. For each subsequent year, this cost is inflated by 3%. Year 1: $64,000; Year 2: $65,920; Year 3: $67,898; Year 4: $69,935; Year 5: $72,033.
  3. 3 Result: The total estimated cost for 5 years of assisted living, starting in 2026 with 3% annual inflation, is approximately $339,786.
  4. 4 Context: This estimate provides a significant figure to consider for your long-term care financial planning. This value helps illustrate the substantial financial commitment associated with extended care and emphasizes the importance of early planning and exploring options like long-term care insurance.

Source: CDC · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does long-term care cost in 2026?
National median costs in 2026 are approximately $6,500/month for a home health aide, $5,500/month for assisted living, and $10,000/month for a semi-private nursing home room. Costs vary significantly by state.
Does Medicare cover long-term care?
Medicare covers very limited long-term care: up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay, with a daily copay of $204.50 after day 20 in 2026. It does not cover custodial or long-term assisted living.
When should I buy long-term care insurance?
The ideal age to buy long-term care insurance is 55-65 when you are healthy enough to qualify and premiums are more affordable. A 55-year-old couple pays about $3,000-$5,000/year for moderate coverage.

You might also need

HSA Calculator 2026 — Contribution Limits & Triple Tax Savings

Calculate HSA tax savings, investment growth, and projected balance at retirement. See the triple tax advantage in action. Based on 2026 IRS contribution limits.

BMI Calculator — Body Mass Index, Category & Healthy Range

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from height and weight. See your BMI category, healthy weight range, and what it means. Free, instant results with chart.

Calorie Calculator (TDEE)

Calculate daily calories for maintenance, weight loss, or gain using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and your activity level.