A common question is, “what does assisted living cost in San Diego County?”
Most often, the cost of assisted living is privately paid by the individual receiving care or their family. Having income and savings is important.
There are a few exceptions to this discussed below.
Your private health insurance, including MediCare, does not pay for long term care in any kind of care facility. This includes assisted living, board and care and skilled nursing.
(MediCare DOES pay for short term rehabilation stays in skilled nursing.)
MediCare pays doctor visits, treatments, qualified hospital stays, and medical services prescribed by a physician such as home health care, and hospice care.
How Can Families Afford The High Assisted Living Cost in San Diego?
If income and savings are not enough, how else can we afford senior care?
- Long Term Care Insurance – This is an insurance policy a senior has paid into over the years that will help pay for the cost of assisted care or home care.
- VA Aid and Attendance – This little known veterans benefit may in some cases pay for long term care.
- Reverse Home Mortgage – This enables seniors to use the equity in their home to pay for care. However the requirement that family still live in the home can make this complicated.
- Life Insurance Policy – You may be able to borrow against or sell your existing life insurance policy.
What About MediCal?
Medi-Cal is a government program to help low income seniors and others pay for care. In order to qualify, you must show limited income and limited assets. There are qualified Medi-Cal attorneys and specialists who can help families apply.
In California, Medi-Caid is called Medi-Cal. It is the same thing.
Every state partners individually with the federal government to administer this program, so it is called something different in each state.
With a few exceptions, Medi-Cal only pays for long term care in a skilled nursing facility. It does not pay for the vast majority of assisted living communities, memory care communities, or board and care homes.
One exception to this private pay assisted living cost in San Diego County is the government sponsored Assisted Living Waiver program.
There are also a few non-profit private health plans that have begun working with Medi-Cal to access for assisted living care.
So What Does Assisted Living Cost in San Diego County?
The majority of assisted living communities and board and care homes in San Diego are month to month rental.
Their rates include meals, basic utilities, housekeeping, transportation (not often in the care homes) and activities.
In assisted living communities, your apartment rent is one rate and care costs are generally additional. And there will be a second person fee added for two seniors in one apartment.
Board and care homes are typically all inclusive rates.
CCRCs that require a financial commitment are a different category entirely.
Assisted living costs vary significantly by location, age of community or home and care provided.
Based upon experience in the year 2021, here are the average price ranges for care in San Diego County.
For detailed price and availability of senior care in San Diego County, please contact us. We’re happy to help and our service is free to families.
Assisted Living Community:
Shared Room (uncommon)
(not including care)
$2200-$2600
Studio/Alcove
(not including care)
$2600-$3500
One Bedroom
(not including care)
$3800-$6500
Two Bedroom
(not including care)
$5500-$8500
Board and Care Home:
Shared Room
(including care)
$3500-$4800
Private Room
(including care)
$5000-$7500
Dementia Care Community:
Shared Room
$3500-$5500 (not including care)
$4500-$6500 (including care)
Private Room
$4500-$6000 (not including care)
$6000-$9000 (including care)
