The Best Nursing Homes in Cedar Rapids

It’s understandable for anyone looking for a nursing home to seek out the very best in quality care. There are approximately 30 nursing homes in Cedar Rapids, IA, so determining which one may be best for you or your family’s needs can seem like a daunting task.

Fortunately, nursing homes in Cedar Rapids are rated for quality every year by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS uses a five-star scale to assess each nursing home on various quality measures like staff credentials and facility cleanliness. 

Below is a list of nursing homes in Cedar Rapids sorted by their Medicare star rating. A five-star nursing home is considered the very best in quality, while three stars signals an average quality nursing home.

This list includes only nursing homes in Cedar Rapids. There may be additional nursing homes just outside Cedar Rapids worth considering in your research. You may use the Medicare care compare search tool to look for more nursing homes around the Cedar Rapids area. 

How Much Do Nursing Homes Cost in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

The average cost for a nursing home room in Cedar Rapids can be anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000. Believe it or not, that’s on the lower end of the national average. 

Given the hefty cost of nursing home care, many people utilize some sort of insurance to help cover the expense. 

Does Medicare Cover Nursing Homes in Cedar Rapids?

Some senior adults may expect their Medicare insurance to help with the cost of a nursing home stay. But beneficiaries may be disappointed to learn that Medicare doesn’t typically cover long-term nursing home care.

Medicare does offer benefits that can be used by someone in a nursing home, but these benefits are for skilled nursing care. Skilled nursing care typically has more of a medical focus than some types of nursing home care. The primary type of care delivered in a nursing home is often not skilled care but rather personal or “custodial” care, which includes activities of daily living. Skilled nursing care is most often performed in a skilled nursing facility but may also be administered in a more traditional nursing home. 

Medicare provides full coverage for the first 20 days of a stay in a skilled nursing facility following an inpatient stay in a hospital. This benefit is designed for individuals needing a temporary stay in a skilled nursing facility to recover from a surgery, illness or injury. 

If more than 20 days in a skilled nursing facility are needed within the same benefit period, Medicare requires a daily copayment. These copayments may be covered by a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan.

Some Medicare Supplement plans can also cover your Part A deductible and other out-of-pocket costs, which could end up saving you a lot of money if you need extensive medical care or require a lengthy inpatient stay in a hospital or nursing facility.

You can compare Medigap plans online to see what options are available where you live.

Long-Term Care Insurance for Nursing Homes in Cedar Rapids

Some health insurance plans may provide benefits for nursing home care, but nursing home coverage is often limited to a type of insurance called long-term care insurance.

These plans are separate from traditional health insurance and can help pay for nursing home room and board along with non-medical care. Your premiums may depend on the amount of coverage you wish to receive, and you will generally become eligible to use the insurance once you are no longer able to perform at least two activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing or dressing. 

Medicaid Coverage of Nursing Homes in Cedar Rapids

Each state operates its own Medicaid program, but all state Medicaid programs typically cover nursing home room and board along with personal care. 

To qualify for nursing home Medicaid benefits, you must exhibit a need for a nursing home level of care, which is often determined by a doctor’s assessment of your need for skilled nursing, rehabilitation services or other care you are unable to administer yourself. 

Medicaid beneficiaries in Iowa also have the option of utilizing a waiver to receive Medicaid nursing home coverage for at-home care if the aging person wishes to remain in their home. 

Medicaid has strict eligibility requirements, so be sure to review the terms and conditions to make sure you or your loved one will qualify for coverage before making Medicaid a part of your long-term care planning. 

Resources for Nursing Home Shoppers in Cedar Rapids

Below are some additional resources that may be of use to anyone looking for a nursing home in the Cedar Rapids, IA area. 

• Medicare coverage of nursing home care
• Iowa Medicaid program
• Iowa Medicaid Waiver Program
• Long-term care calculator
• Directory of nursing homes in Cedar Rapids, IA
• Aging services in Cedar Rapids, IA
• Iowa nursing home ombudsman program
• Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging