PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)
A Medicare and Medicaid program that provides comprehensive medical and social services through a single organization so eligible older adults can continue living in the community.
We currently list 206 licensed PACE organizations across 34 states and territories, with 630,613 inspection records in the national dataset.
How PACE costs work
PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare and Medicaid program that bundles medical and social services so eligible older adults can stay in the community. For dual-eligible enrollees who qualify, covered PACE services are typically little or no out-of-pocket cost. That is eligibility-driven, not a local private-pay median for the United States.
- Eligibility (high level): usually age 55+, living in the PACE service area, certified as needing nursing-home level of care, and able to live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. States and sites set the exact rules.
- Private-pay case: people who meet clinical/geographic rules but are not on Medicaid may pay a monthly premium set by the PACE organization. Ask the local PACE site for its private-pay rate; we do not invent one.
- Official overview: Medicare.gov PACE.
Questions families ask about PACE
What is the PACE program?
PACE stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It is a joint Medicare and Medicaid program run by local PACE organizations. One care team coordinates everything an enrollee needs: doctors, nursing, therapy, prescriptions, meals, and transportation, usually built around a day center. The goal is to keep people who qualify for nursing-home-level care living safely at home instead.
How much does the PACE program cost?
It depends on your coverage. If you have Medicaid, or both Medicare and Medicaid, you pay no monthly premium for the long-term care part of PACE, and no deductible or copay for any service the PACE care team approves. If you have Medicare but not Medicaid, you pay a monthly premium for the long-term care portion plus a premium for Medicare Part D drugs. Each PACE organization sets its own premium, so ask the local program for its rate. We do not publish invented PACE prices.
Who qualifies for PACE?
In most states you must be 55 or older, live in a PACE organization's service area, be certified by your state as needing nursing-home-level care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support when you enroll. Your state and the local PACE organization confirm the exact rules.
Does Medi-Cal cover the PACE program?
Yes. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, so Medi-Cal members who qualify for PACE pay no monthly premium and no copays for approved services. California has one of the largest networks of PACE organizations in the country. Our California PACE page lists the programs we track there.
Can you leave PACE after joining?
Yes. Enrollment is voluntary. You can leave the program and return to regular Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and you can also rejoin later if you still qualify. Ask the PACE organization how disenrollment timing works before you sign up.
Can I keep my own doctor in PACE?
Usually not. PACE provides primary care through its own team and contracts with its own specialists and hospitals. Some organizations have community physicians in their network, so ask before enrolling if keeping a specific doctor matters.
What happens if I move out of the service area?
You have to disenroll, because PACE can only serve addresses inside its approved ZIP codes. Coverage returns to regular Medicare and Medicaid the month after you leave, and you can enroll in another PACE organization if your new address is in one.
Program rules from Medicare.gov. Premiums vary by PACE organization; confirm rates with the local program.
How to find a PACE program and what enrolling changes
The questions families bring to this page are about the program itself: what it costs, who qualifies, and what you give up. The short answers are in the FAQ above. This section covers the part people find out late, which is how enrollment actually works.
Finding a program that serves your address
PACE organizations are approved for fixed ZIP-code service areas. Medicare.gov's PACE finder searches by address and is the fastest way to learn whether any program covers you. Our state pages list every organization we have on file by county, which helps when a city page is empty: the organization serving you is often based in the next city over.
What changes when you enroll
PACE becomes your Medicare and Medicaid coverage. You use the program's doctors, specialists and hospitals, and the care team decides what services the program pays for. That trade is what makes the bundle possible, and it is the reason to ask about the program's providers before you sign. You can disenroll at any time, effective the first of the next month, and regular coverage resumes.
The state does the level-of-care assessment, and it can take weeks. Ask the organization how long intake is running and whether the nearest day center has a waiting list. If the person has Medicare but not Medicaid, get the monthly premium in writing; it varies widely between organizations.
Sources: Medicare.gov: PACE · National PACE Association. Checked 2026-09-07.
PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) by state
206 licensed providers across 34 states and territories in this table. Open a state for costs, ratings, and the full directory.
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CMS rating distribution
No CMS star ratings are loaded for pace (program of all-inclusive care for the elderly) in the United States yet. When ratings exist, the 1–5 star distribution appears here.
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Other care types
- Assisted LivingHousing, meals, and help with daily activities, not full nursing care.
- In-Home CareNon-medical help at home with bathing, meals, and companionship, billed hourly.
- Nursing HomesAround-the-clock skilled care for serious health needs, often after a hospital stay.
- Home Health CareDoctor-ordered nursing or therapy delivered at home for a set period.
- Affordable Senior ApartmentsIncome-restricted (affordable) housing for older adults with capped rent.
- Hospice CareComfort-focused care near the end of life, at home or a facility.
- Adult Day CareDaytime supervision and activities at a center, so caregivers get a break.
- Memory CareA secured, staffed setting built for people living with dementia.
- Independent LivingAge-restricted apartments with light services for seniors who live independently.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)One campus spanning independent living, assisted living, and nursing care.