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Private Pay vs Medicaid Adult Family Home

Private-pay vs Medicaid Adult Family Homes: different admission paths, rates, and paperwork. Compare costs with calculators — not an eligibility decision.

Private pay vs Medicaid Adult Family Home is a payer and contract question. The building can look the same; the invoice and admission rules may not.

Private pay

You receive a written monthly rate (sometimes with care-level add-ons). Estimate with the AFH care cost calculator and compare other settings in the assisted living cost calculator. Guide: how much an Adult Family Home costs.

Medicaid

Eligibility, CARE assessment, and a contracted home are all required for Medicaid care payments. Start with Does Medicaid pay for Adult Family Homes?, COPES, and published rates in the Medicaid rate calculator. Room-and-board may still apply.

How to search

Use the directory Medicaid filter as a starting list, then call. Tags can lag. Related: Adult Family Homes that accept Medicaid and how to pay for long-term care.

Not an eligibility or admission decision.

Frequently asked questions

What is a private-pay Adult Family Home?

A home that bills the resident or family a private monthly rate without a Medicaid care payment for that stay.

What is a Medicaid Adult Family Home?

A home with a public Medicaid-related contract that may bill Medicaid for eligible, assessed residents. Admission is still the home’s decision.

Can a home take both?

Some homes take a mix. Always ask about current openings and payer mix.