Utah · Long-Term Care · 2024 Data
The Real Cost of Long-Term Care in Utah (2024 Data) — and How to Plan for It
Most retirements aren't undone by the markets — they're undone by the cost of care.
The bottom line
- About 70% of people turning 65 today will need some long-term care (U.S. Administration for Community Living).
- In Utah (2024), assisted living runs about $4,685/month and a nursing-home private room about $127,750/year (CareScout).
- Medicare does not pay for ongoing custodial long-term care — only short, skilled care after a hospital stay.
- Families pay for care with savings, long-term care insurance, hybrid life/LTC policies, annuity income, and Medicaid as a backstop.
If you're planning for retirement in Utah, the single biggest financial risk you face usually isn't a market downturn — it's the cost of long-term care. Most people will need some, it's expensive, and the program most assume will cover it (Medicare) generally won't. The good news: when you understand the numbers, you can plan for them. Here's what care actually costs in Utah, why Medicare leaves the gap, and the ways families fill it.
How likely are you to need long-term care?
According to the U.S. Administration for Community Living, about 70% of people turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care in their lifetime. Roughly one-third may never need it — but about 20% will need care for longer than five years. On average, women need care about 3.7 years and men about 2.2 years.
Source: U.S. Administration for Community Living, longtermcare.gov — acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-will-you-need.
What long-term care costs in Utah (2024)
Based on the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 for Utah, here's what different settings cost. Home care figures reflect roughly 44 hours of help per week.
| Type of care (Utah, 2024) | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | $4,685 | $56,220 |
| Homemaker / companion | $6,864 | $82,368 |
| Home health aide | $7,245 | $86,944 |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $8,365 | $100,375 |
| Nursing home (private) | $10,646 | $127,750 |
Source: CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 — Utah — carescout.com/cost-of-care.
Annual cost of long-term care in Utah by setting (2024). Source: CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024.
Why Medicare does NOT cover long-term care
This is the part that surprises most families. Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care — the ongoing help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, mobility) that most people eventually need. Medicare covers only short-term skilled care: up to about 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, plus some home health. Once care becomes custodial and ongoing, Medicare stops paying.
You can confirm this on the official site, Medicare.gov. The takeaway: assuming Medicare will cover a nursing home or assisted living is the most common — and most expensive — planning mistake.
How Utah families actually pay for long-term care
There's no single right answer. Most plans use a combination of the following, matched to your health, assets, and goals:
1. Personal savings and investments
Paying out of pocket gives you the most control, but at Utah's costs a long stay can exhaust savings quickly — and leave a surviving spouse with less. For many families, savings cover the first stretch of care while other tools handle the risk of a long event.
2. Long-term care insurance
A traditional long-term care policy pays a daily or monthly benefit once you need help with daily activities, usable for home care, assisted living, or a nursing home. It offers the most coverage per premium dollar, though premiums can change over time. Planning while you're healthy keeps you insurable and rates lower.
3. Hybrid life / long-term care policies
Hybrid policies combine a long-term care benefit with a life-insurance death benefit, so a benefit is paid whether or not you end up needing care, and premiums are typically locked. They cost more than traditional coverage but remove the "use it or lose it" worry.
4. Annuity income
Dependable lifetime income — from Social Security and, where it fits, an annuity — frees up other savings to absorb care costs, and some annuities offer income or care features. Annuity guarantees rely on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer; there are no guaranteed investment returns.
5. Medicaid (as a backstop)
Medicaid is the nation's largest payer of long-term care and can pay for ongoing custodial care — but only for people who meet strict income and asset limits, and it's a payer of last resort. Many families plan with savings and insurance first, using Medicaid if care is long and other resources run out. See Medicaid.gov for program details; legal asset-protection strategies require an elder-law attorney.
We help Utah families weigh savings, insurance, annuities, and Medicaid — in plain English, with no pressure.
Talk to a planner →Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare pay for long-term care in Utah?
Generally no. Medicare covers only short, skilled care (up to about 100 days) after a qualifying hospital stay — not ongoing custodial care, assisted living, or extended nursing-home stays. For long-term care, families plan with savings, insurance, annuity income, or Medicaid.
How much does assisted living cost in Utah?
About $4,685 per month — roughly $56,220 a year — based on the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 for Utah.
How much does a nursing home cost in Utah?
About $100,375 a year for a semi-private room and about $127,750 a year for a private room, per the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 for Utah.
How likely am I to need long-term care?
About 70% of people turning 65 today will need some long-term care, according to the U.S. Administration for Community Living. About one-third may never need it, while about 20% will need it for longer than five years.
What's the best way to pay for long-term care?
There's no single answer. Common options are personal savings, long-term care insurance, hybrid life/LTC policies, annuity income, and Medicaid as a backstop. The right mix depends on your health, assets, and goals. This is educational, not financial advice.
Sources
- CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 — Utah: carescout.com/cost-of-care
- U.S. Administration for Community Living — how much care you'll need: acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-will-you-need
- What Medicare covers: Medicare.gov
- Medicaid program details: Medicaid.gov
About this article. Written by the Utah Retirement Income Data Desk and reviewed by Brian Penner, Retirement income & long-term care planner. Educational only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Utah Retirement Income is a licensed independent insurance agency (NPN 16493717) and is not connected with any government agency. Insurance and annuity guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing company; product availability and rates vary.