Paying for assisted living in Maine usually means combining several sources, because no single program covers the full monthly cost.

Assisted living in Maine runs about $8,712 a month, and most families piece together the bill from personal income and savings, long-term care insurance, and VA benefits for those who served, because MaineCare does not pay for residence in an assisted living facility. This guide walks through each source so you can build a realistic plan for your family.

In This Guide

What Assisted Living Costs in Maine

Assisted living in Maine runs about $8,712 a month, well above the national median, based on the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey. The figure varies by region, with the Portland area running highest. A memory-care unit or a higher care level adds to the base. Treat the median as a planning anchor, not a quote, and ask each assisted living facility for an all-in monthly price that separates the base rent from the care-level add-ons.

That monthly number is the starting point for everything below: at over $8,700 a month, and with MaineCare not covering assisted-living residence, the goal of assembling enough from the sources that follow is especially pressing.

Private Pay

Most assisted living in Maine is paid for privately, because MaineCare does not cover residence in an assisted living facility. The common sources families draw on are:

  • Income: Social Security, pensions, and retirement-account withdrawals are the steadiest base.
  • Savings and investments: drawn down on a planned schedule so you know how many months or years they will cover at about $8,712 a month.
  • The family home: selling the home, or borrowing against it through a home-equity line or a reverse mortgage if a spouse still lives there, frees up a large share of many families' net worth.
  • Annuities and life-insurance conversions: some families convert a life-insurance policy to a long-term-care benefit or use an annuity to turn a lump sum into predictable monthly income.

Build a written timeline of how long private funds will last. Because MaineCare will not pick up assisted-living residence, that timeline matters even more in Maine.

Long-Term Care Insurance

If your parent bought a long-term care insurance policy, it can cover a large part of the assisted living bill. Read the policy for three things: the daily or monthly benefit amount, the elimination period (the days you pay out of pocket before benefits start, often 30 to 90 days), and whether assisted living, not just nursing-home care, is a covered setting. Most modern policies cover assisted living, but older ones sometimes do not. File the claim early, because the elimination period does not start until the claim is approved and care has begun.

VA Aid and Attendance

A wartime veteran or a surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, a federal add-on to the VA pension that provides extra monthly income that can be applied to assisted living. Eligibility depends on wartime service, a doctor-documented need for assistance, and income and asset limits. Because the benefit is federal, the amounts are set nationally rather than by Maine, and it is worth applying with help from an accredited VA representative even if you are unsure your parent qualifies. For many Maine families, where MaineCare does not cover assisted-living residence, this benefit is one of the most meaningful sources of help.

MaineCare and Its Limited Role

MaineCare, Maine's Medicaid program, covers nursing-facility care and home- and community-based services for eligible older adults and people with disabilities, but it does not pay for residence in an assisted living facility. Maine's main home- and community-based waiver, Section 19 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual (Home and Community Benefits for the Elderly and Adults with Disabilities), funds personal care for people living in their own or a family home; it does not cover assisted living. In practice, that means MaineCare may help a parent stay at home, or pay for a nursing home if needs rise to that level, but assisted living itself is a private-pay decision supplemented by VA benefits and insurance.

If your parent's needs rise to a nursing-facility level and finances are near the MaineCare limits, getting advice before applying can prevent costly missteps.

How to Put It Together

Most Maine families layer these sources: private income and savings carry the assisted-living years, VA Aid and Attendance or long-term care insurance fills part of the gap for those who qualify, and MaineCare becomes relevant mainly for staying at home or, if needs rise, for nursing-facility care. The key planning move is to map out, in advance, how long private funds last and what the next step would be if they run low.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. MaineCare covers nursing-facility care and home-based services, but its Section 19 waiver funds care for people in their own or a family home and does not cover residence in an assisted living facility. Assisted living in Maine is largely a private-pay decision.

About $8,712 a month, well above the national median, with the Portland area running highest and added cost for higher care levels or memory care.

Yes, and they matter especially here. A wartime veteran or surviving spouse who needs help with daily activities may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, extra monthly pension income, set at federal amounts, that can be applied to assisted living, where MaineCare does not cover residence.

It is the Home and Community Benefits for the Elderly and Adults with Disabilities waiver in the MaineCare Benefits Manual, which funds personal care for people living in their own or a family home; it does not cover residence in an assisted living facility.

Usually yes for modern policies, though older ones may cover only nursing-home care. Check the benefit amount, the elimination period, and whether assisted living is a covered setting, and file the claim as soon as care begins.

Learn More

Find personalized help paying for assisted living in Maine at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.