Updated August 26, 2026. Quick answer: For applications from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, Iowa uses $9,838.96 a month, or $323.65 a day, as the statewide average nursing facility cost.
The figure Iowa publishes
| What the state lists | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average monthly cost | $9,838.96 |
| Average daily cost | $323.65 |
| Applications covered | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 |
How the penalty period is calculated
- The value of the assets transferred is divided by the statewide average cost of nursing facility services in effect at the time of the application.
Once you have the figure above, the Medicaid penalty period calculator does the arithmetic. This page is the Iowa rate record; the calculator is the class parent.
What this page does not settle
- Iowa republishes this pair each state fiscal year; an application filed in an earlier year uses that year’s figure, which this page does not list in full.
Eligibility is decided by the state agency on the whole file, not by this one number. Nothing here is legal advice, and no one should transfer, retitle or give away property on the strength of a worksheet.
Source
Iowa HHS, Medicaid long-term care: transfer of assets deadlines and Iowa nursing facility costs — retrieved and checked against the state text on August 26, 2026.
Related: Iowa’s Medicaid home equity limit for a single applicant with no spouse or dependent child at home.
Related: Iowa’s Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance; the amount a nursing-facility resident keeps from their own income each month.