How much does a nursing home cost in Idaho?
The median nursing home cost in Idaho is $12,167 per month for a private room and $10,494 per month for a semi-private room, based on the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey released March 2026. That's roughly $146,000 per year for a private room.
Idaho costs run near the national median, with Boise metro pulling the state average slightly higher than rural areas.
2026 Idaho senior care costs at a glance
| Care type | Idaho median/month | National median (CareScout 2025) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing home (private) | $12,167 | $10,798 | +13% |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $10,494 | $9,581 | +10% |
| Memory care (est) | $6,450 | $7,750 | −17% |
| Assisted living | $5,175 | $6,200 | −17% |
| Non-medical caregiver (hourly) | $39 | $35 | +11% |
See your exact spend-down timeline for Idaho
Enter your savings, income, and care type to see how long your money lasts before reaching Idaho Medicaid asset limits.
Open the Idaho calculator →Nursing home costs by Idaho city
Costs vary by metro area within the state. Urban markets typically run 10–25% above state medians, while rural areas can be 10–20% below.
City-level estimates are based on CareScout 2025 metro-area data. Individual facility costs vary 20–40% from these medians depending on amenities, staffing ratios, and room type.
Idaho Medicaid for nursing home care
Idaho Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet both medical eligibility (need for skilled nursing care) and financial eligibility (limited assets and income). Understanding the rules before you need them can save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Idaho Medicaid 2026 asset limits
Individual applicant: $2,000 in countable assets (2026)
Married couple, one spouse applying: Community spouse may keep up to $162,660 under the federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (2026 maximum), plus the home, one vehicle, and personal belongings
The 5-year look-back period in Idaho
Idaho Medicaid reviews all asset transfers made within 60 months (5 years) of your application date. Gifts to family, property transfers below market value, or large unexplained withdrawals trigger a penalty period that delays Medicaid eligibility — during which you must private-pay.
Idaho's 2026 penalty divisor is approximately $12,167 per month (~$400 per day). A $50,000 transfer that violates the look-back rule would create roughly a 123-day penalty period during which Idaho Medicaid will not cover care costs.
This is why elder law attorneys consistently advise families to begin Medicaid planning at least 5 years before nursing home care is needed.
Find a Idaho elder law attorney
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys maintains a state-by-state directory of certified elder law attorneys.
Find a Idaho attorney →What makes Idaho different
Idaho Medicaid (Idaho Health Plan Coverage) operates the Aged and Disabled Waiver with approximately 15,000 enrollment slots, administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Idaho regulates assisted living as Residential Assisted Living Facilities (RALFs) under IDAPA 16.03.22, with smaller adult-foster-care settings licensed as Certified Family Homes (CFHs) for 2–3 unrelated residents. Idaho also operates Idaho Medicaid Plus (IMPlus), a managed-care coordination plan specifically for dual-eligible seniors with both Medicare and Medicaid — a relatively rare state-managed dual-coordination model. Personal Care Services is available as a state-plan entitlement (no waitlist), separate from the waiver. Idaho is one of the few states without an adult day care services Medicaid benefit.
Sources: state Medicaid agency program documentation and CMS spousal-impoverishment standards. See our methodology page for the broader data sources used across this site.
How Idaho compares to neighboring states
Cost differences across state lines can be substantial. Some families consider relocating for care, particularly if adult children live across a border.