How Much Does Long-Term Care Really Cost in Texas?

Reviewed by Attorney Kim Hegwood

Long-term care in Texas costs far more than most families expect. In 2026, a nursing home runs roughly $6,000 to $15,000 a month depending on the facility and level of care, with a private room averaging around $7,000. Assisted living typically falls in the $4,000 to $6,000 range, and in-home care now costs $20 to $30 an hour, which means full-time care at home can reach $25,000 to $30,000 a month.

Medicare and health insurance do not cover this kind of long-term custodial care, so families pay out of pocket until they qualify for Medicaid or another program. Understanding the real numbers is the first step to planning for them.

How Much Does a Nursing Home Cost in Texas?

Nursing home care is the most expensive option because it provides 24-hour skilled care. In 2026, costs in Texas generally run from about $6,000 to $15,000 a month, driven by location and level of care.

• A private room averages roughly $7,000 a month, or about $84,000 a year.
• A semi-private room is somewhat less, often in the mid-$5,000s per month.
• Houston-area facilities frequently run above the statewide average.

At these rates, private savings drain quickly. A single year of nursing home care can cost more than many families have saved for retirement, which is why Medicaid planning becomes central so fast.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

Assisted living is a middle option for people who need help with daily activities but not full-time skilled nursing. In Texas, it commonly costs between $4,000 and $6,000 a month, though memory care units for dementia run higher.

The tradeoff is real. Assisted living is less expensive than a nursing home and offers more independence, but it provides less medical care. Many families use it as a step before nursing home care becomes necessary.

How Much Does In-Home Care Cost?

Most people want to stay in their own home, and the cost of that choice has climbed sharply. Twenty years ago, in-home help might have cost $8 an hour. In 2026, it typically runs $20 to $30 an hour.

The math adds up fast:

• Part-time help of a few hours a day can still reach several thousand dollars a month.
• Around-the-clock in-home care can cost $25,000 to $30,000 a month, more than a nursing home.

Staying home feels less disruptive, but without planning it often shifts the caregiving burden onto adult children or forces a crisis decision later. A thoughtful long-term care plan gives families options instead of a single, expensive default.

Does Medicare or Insurance Pay for Long-Term Care?

This is where families get caught off guard. Medicare and standard health insurance do not pay for long-term custodial care.

Medicare covers only short-term skilled care: up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying three-day hospital stay, and in 2026 you pay $217 per day for days 21 through 100. After that, Medicare stops. It was never built for months or years of custodial care. You can confirm the limits on the official Medicare skilled nursing facility page. Social Security retirement benefits help with monthly income but come nowhere close to covering these costs.

How Do Families Actually Pay for Long-Term Care?

Since insurance and Medicare fall short, Texas families generally rely on some combination of:

• Private savings and income, which usually cover the early stretch of care
• Long-term care insurance, if a policy was purchased years earlier
• Veterans benefits like Aid and Attendance, for those who qualify
• Medicaid, which covers ongoing nursing home care once a parent meets the 2026 income and asset limits

The families who plan ahead protect far more than those who wait for a crisis. Legal tools can shield a home, protect a spouse, and preserve savings, but most work best before care is urgently needed. This is the heart of asset protection for long-term care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is in-home care sometimes more expensive than a nursing home?

Around-the-clock in-home care means paying for many hours at $20 to $30 each, which can exceed a nursing home’s all-inclusive monthly rate.

Does Medicare pay anything toward long-term care?

Only short-term skilled care after a hospital stay, capped at 100 days with a daily copay for days 21 to 100. It does not cover long-term custodial care.

How much does memory care cost in Texas?

Memory care usually costs more than standard assisted living because of the added supervision and specialized staff, often several thousand dollars more per month.

Can I protect my savings from these costs?

Often yes, with planning. Tools like trusts, Medicaid planning, and VA benefits can preserve assets, but they work best when set up before care is needed.

Will Medicaid pay for care at home?

Yes, through the STAR+PLUS waiver, though some services have waitlists. Medicaid can cover care at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home once you qualify.

Planning for the Real Cost of Care

The cost of long-term care is the single biggest financial surprise many Texas families face. At $6,000 to $15,000 a month for a nursing home, and even more for full-time care at home, the difference between planning and not planning is measured in tens of thousands of dollars.

At Your Legacy Legal Care®, our elder law team helps Greater Houston families prepare for these costs and protect what they have built, on a flat fee so there are no surprises. To build a plan before a crisis, schedule a strategy session.

Key Takeaways

• In 2026, Texas nursing homes cost roughly $6,000 to $15,000 a month, with a private room averaging about $7,000.
• Assisted living generally runs $4,000 to $6,000 a month, and in-home care costs $20 to $30 an hour.
• Full-time in-home care can reach $25,000 to $30,000 a month, sometimes more than a nursing home.
• Medicare and health insurance do not pay for long-term custodial care, only short-term skilled care after a hospital stay.
• Families cover care through savings, long-term care insurance, VA benefits, and Medicaid, and planning ahead protects far more than waiting.

Related Resources from Your Legacy Legal Care®

• Long Term Care Planning
• Medicaid Planning
• Asset Protection
• Elder Law
• Estate Planning Assessment (Free)