Assisted Living Cost in Pennsylvania: 2025 Medians and CHC Pathways

Assisted Living Cost in Pennsylvania: 2025 Medians and CHC Pathways

Key takeaways

• CareScout 2025 Pennsylvania median assisted living: $6,480/month ($77,760/year), close to the U.S. median of $6,200/month.[1][2]

• Medicare does not pay for most custodial AL.[3]

• Pennsylvania’s main Medicaid long-term services framework for many dual-eligible and LTSS adults is Community HealthChoices (CHC).[4] Whether a specific assisted living arrangement is covered—and what the participant still pays for room and board—depends on CHC rules, clinical assessment, and MCO options. Confirm with DHS / your CHC plan; we do not invent coverage conclusions here.

• Start with county assistance offices, CHC MCOs, and Area Agencies on Aging—not facility sales pitches.

• Related: Assisted living and memory care costs (hub)

• Related: Long-term care options

• Related: Medicaid eligibility

• Related: Long-term care insurance and costs

• Related: Family caregiver guide

• Related: Aging in place: home modifications

• Related: How to find SHIP/SHIBA

Pennsylvania cost range (CareScout 2025)

Survey July–November 2025; CareScout PDF tables opened.[1][2]

Memory care: No CareScout 2025 dedicated memory-care median in tables we opened—get written quotes.

Medicare reminder

Medicare.gov: most long-term custodial care is Not Covered.[3] Pennsylvania APPRISE (SHIP): how to find SHIP/SHIBA.

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Community HealthChoices — how to ask about assisted living support

Pennsylvania DHS describes Community HealthChoices (CHC) as coordinating care for many people 21+ who have Medicare and Medicaid, or who receive Medicaid long-term supports for everyday personal tasks, with a goal of serving more people in communities rather than facilities.[4]

DHS lists enrollment themes such as dual Medicare/Medicaid status, certain waiver LTSS pathways, Medicaid-paid nursing home care, and related categories—and also lists exclusions (for example, some Office of Developmental Programs services and state-operated nursing facilities).[4]

Consumer action (no eligibility claim from this page):

1. Read the official CHC overview: PA DHS Community HealthChoices.
2. Ask your CHC MCO service coordinator: “What assisted living or residential options, if any, can CHC support for someone with my/my parent’s assessment—and what monthly costs would we still pay?”
3. Ask your County Assistance Office about Medicaid LTSS financial eligibility.
4. Use Eldercare Locator for the local Area Agency on Aging: eldercare.acl.gov / 1-800-677-1116.

ACL’s national reminder still applies: Medicaid programs vary by state; some cover assisted living services and others do not; Medicaid generally does not pay rent, mortgage, utilities, or food.[5]

Broader concepts: Medicaid eligibility. First screen only:

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Practical checklist for Pennsylvania families

1. Collect two written AL/memory care quotes.
2. Ask each residence whether it works with CHC MCOs and what private-pay vs Medicaid-supported arrangements look like.
3. Call AAA / Eldercare Locator about local counseling (including APPRISE for Medicare).
4. Compare home modifications: aging in place.
5. Caregiver planning: family caregiver guide.
6. Private LTC insurance questions: LTC insurance and costs—no sales.

FAQ

Is Pennsylvania’s median close to the national figure?
CareScout 2025 shows PA $6,480/month vs national $6,200.[1][2] County variation is still large.

Does CHC automatically pay for memory care?
No automatic promise on this page. Memory care is a setting; payment depends on Medicaid/CHC rules, assessments, and provider participation. Ask the MCO and DHS in writing.

Sources

1. CareScout. Cost of Care Report. https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care. Survey July–November 2025. Accessed October 30, 2026.
2. CareScout. Cost of Care Survey 2025 median tables (PDF). https://assets.carescout.com/x/8fcb50422f/282102.pdf. Accessed October 30, 2026.
3. Medicare.gov. Long-term care. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care. Accessed October 30, 2026.
4. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Community HealthChoices. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid/chc. Accessed October 30, 2026.
5. Administration for Community Living. Medicaid Long-term Care Services. https://acl.gov/ltc/medicare-medicaid-and-more/medicaid/medicaid-long-term-care-services. Accessed October 30, 2026.

Disclaimer

This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. We do not sell facilities, insurance, or cost PDFs. Only DHS, County Assistance Offices, and CHC MCOs determine Medicaid/CHC eligibility and covered residential supports. Talk with those agencies, a licensed attorney, or APPRISE/SHIP. In an emergency, call 911.

Attribution

Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: adapted and rewritten for the U.S. context (not a direct translation), and re-sourced to U.S. research and official guidance.