At a glance
Who it's for
People 55+ who need a nursing-home level of care but can live safely at home, in a PACE service area
What it covers
All Medicare- and Medicaid-covered care, plus anything the PACE team approves
Cost
Usually $0 a month with Medicaid; Medicare-only members pay a monthly premium
The catch
Your parent must use PACE's doctors and providers
Leaving
Your parent can disenroll at any time

Imagine one place that handles everything for your parent: the primary care doctor, the nurse, physical therapy, prescriptions, a day program with lunch and activities, a van that picks them up, and an aide who comes to the house to help with bathing. One phone number. One care team that actually talks to each other.

That's PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It's a Medicare and Medicaid program built around one idea: most people who qualify for a nursing home would rather stay home, and with enough coordinated help, many can.

Who qualifies

Your parent must:

They don't have to be on Medicaid or Medicare, though most members have one or both.

What PACE covers

Everything Medicare and Medicaid would cover, plus anything else the care team decides your parent needs. That typically includes:

There are no deductibles or copays for services the PACE team approves.

What it costs

The tradeoff

PACE works best for families comfortable with a team-based approach. The big catch: your parent generally has to use the PACE organization's doctors and providers. If they're attached to a longtime cardiologist, that's a real consideration.

The upside is coordination. Instead of you being the person who carries test results from one specialist to another, the PACE team meets regularly about your parent.

PACE in Florida

Florida has more PACE organizations than most states, though they only cover certain counties. As of the state's August 2026 report, 16 programs were operating, serving:

Region Counties with a PACE program
South Florida Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin
Southwest Florida Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto
Tampa Bay Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando
Central Florida Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Sumter
North Florida Duval, Clay
Panhandle Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa

Service areas are usually defined by ZIP code, so living in a listed county doesn't guarantee your parent is covered. Check with the program directly.

In Florida, the Department of Elder Affairs determines whether your parent meets the level-of-care requirement. If PACE isn't available, the Florida Medicaid long-term care program covers many of the same home and community services.

How to enroll

  1. Find a program. Use Medicare's plan finder or the National PACE Association's locator, or ask the local Area Agency on Aging. Our Eldercare Locator guide explains how to find it.
  2. Call and tour the center. Ask about transportation times, how often members attend, and how home care is scheduled.
  3. Complete the assessments. The PACE team will evaluate your parent's health and home, and the state confirms nursing-home level of care.
  4. Apply for Medicaid if needed. The PACE staff can usually help start the application.
  5. Sign the enrollment agreement. Coverage starts on the first of the following month.

Questions worth asking on the tour How long is the van ride? What happens on weekends and at night? Who do we call after hours? How many members does each doctor have? How are hospital stays handled? Can we meet the team before we sign?

Bring to the intake appointment

  • Medicare and Medicaid cards
  • A complete medication list
  • Recent hospital discharge papers and test results
  • Names of current doctors and specialists
  • Health care surrogate or health care power of attorney
  • Durable power of attorney
  • Living will and any DNR order

The PACE team will build a new care plan from scratch. Giving them a complete set of records from a DokuDocs vault on day one saves duplicate tests and missed details.

Coordination starts with the paperwork The whole value of PACE is a team that knows everything about your parent. That only works if the team gets everything: directives, past records, insurance. DokuDocs keeps it all in one place for that first handoff and the ones after.

Questions families ask

Does PACE replace Medicare?

PACE becomes your parent's source of Medicare and Medicaid benefits, including prescription drugs. Your parent keeps their Medicare eligibility, but receives care through the PACE organization while enrolled.

Can my parent keep their own doctor?

Usually not. PACE members use the PACE organization's primary care team and contracted specialists. For some families this is a dealbreaker; for others, a team that coordinates everything is a relief.

Does PACE pay for nursing homes?

Yes, if your parent eventually needs nursing home care, PACE covers it and stays involved. Most members, though, live at home.

What if PACE doesn't operate where my parent lives?

PACE is only available in specific ZIP codes. If it's not available, look at your state's Medicaid home and community-based programs, like Florida's Medicaid long-term care program.

This guide explains public programs in plain language. It is not legal, medical or financial advice. Program rules, dollar amounts and phone numbers change, so confirm details with the agency before you apply. DokuDocs is not affiliated with any government agency.