STATE PROFILE • Last updated: November 11, 2026
Illinois Elder Care & Medicaid
Illinois offers robust Medicaid programs for seniors, including home and community-based waivers and supportive living options, to provide long-term care alternatives to nursing home placement.
leaderboard
RANKED #11
GRADE B
FEATURED
Medicaid Coverage Guide for Illinois
Full breakdown of Supportive Living Program for seniors: waiver programs, nursing home eligibility, income and asset limits, spend-down rules, and how to apply.
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Program
Supportive Living Program
Income cap
$1,330/mo
Medically-needy
Yes
Elder Care Index Report Card
5-pillar composite scoring vs other states
B
Grade
AFFORDABILITY
GRADE B · 88
QUALITY
GRADE F · 31
STAFFING
GRADE D · 30
ACCESS
GRADE A · 58
MEDICAID SUPPORT
GRADE A · 76
Composite score: 64.1 / 100 (50 = average state)
Methodology arrow_forward
Illinois At a Glance
Nursing Home Facilities
668
Senior Medicaid Waivers
2
National Rank
#11 / 51
Range #8–#24 when the pillar weights shift
Senior Care Costs in Illinois
local_hospital
Nursing Home
$8,145/mo
-26.2% vs national avg
- 668 nursing homes · 85,329 beds
- Avg CMS rating 2.52★ (91 rated 5★, 240 rated 1★)
- 3.49 nurse hrs/resident/day (0.73 RN)
Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare
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home_health
Home Health Aide
$27/hr
- Median aide wage $17.46/hr
- ~119,640 aides employed statewide
Source: BLS OEWS
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