08/30/2026
🏦 At age 55, a decade before Medicare itself begins, some Americans qualify for a program that provides nursing-home-level care while they keep living at home.
It is called PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and it combines medical care and long-term support so people who qualify for nursing-home-level care can often remain in their homes and communities.
To qualify, you must be 55 or older, live in a PACE service area, be certified by your state as needing a nursing-home level of care, and be able to live safely in the community with the program's help.
One care team then coordinates everything: doctors, prescriptions, transportation, therapy, meals, adult day care, and home support.
The payment model is the interesting part: PACE generally receives fixed monthly payments based on each participant's coverage and assumes the financial risk for their care, which rewards preventing avoidable hospital and nursing-home stays.
The National PACE Association reports 94 percent of participants continue living in their communities, across 204 programs in 33 states plus DC.
The tradeoff is coordination: most routine care runs through the PACE team and its provider network, so you generally cannot keep using outside doctors independently, though emergency care is an exception.
On cost, Medicaid enrollees generally pay no monthly premium, Medicare-only enrollees may owe premiums for the long-term-care portion and Part D, and approved PACE care has no deductibles or copays.
Had you heard of PACE before today, and is caring for an aging parent part of your planning?
P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.
R.J. Weiss, CFP®
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.