Daytona Beach Senior AdvisorHow do an SMMC long-term care plan and PACE differ?
An SMMC LTC plan pays for long-term care services such as personal care, adult day care and assisted living services while the person keeps their own doctors under Medicare, whereas PACE replaces the person's Medicare and Medicaid coverage with a single team that provides all medical and long-term care, usually centered on a day center.
PACE's appeal is coordination: the same team sees the participant at the center, at home and in the hospital. The trade-off is using the PACE organization's doctors.
Which one can people in Volusia and Flagler use today?
Only an SMMC long-term care plan: AHCA's August 2026 report shows Beacon of Life's PACE program for Volusia, Flagler and Seminole still pending federal approval, so no PACE organization is enrolling here yet.
When the program opens, people already enrolled in an SMMC LTC plan can switch to PACE if they meet its requirements.
Who qualifies for each?
Both require nursing facility level of care and, for Medicaid payment, Florida's income and asset limits ($2,982 a month and $2,000 for one person in 2026); PACE adds an age floor of 55, residence in the service area and the ability to live safely in the community at enrollment.
The SMMC LTC route usually starts with screening by ElderSource and a wait for release from the priority list, unless the person is already in a nursing home.
Which tends to suit whom?
PACE tends to suit people with many medical conditions who are willing to change doctors and like the idea of a day center; an SMMC LTC plan suits people attached to their current doctors, those who live in assisted living, and anyone who needs help now.
Families should not wait for PACE if help is needed today. Getting on the SMMC LTC list keeps both options open.
Where can we get advice on the choice?
ElderSource (1-888-242-4464) for screening and local services, Florida Medicaid choice counseling (1-877-711-3662) for plan selection, and SHINE (1-800-963-5337) for the Medicare side.
See our PACE status page, which we update when AHCA's monthly report changes.
At a glance
| An SMMC long-term care plan | PACE | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability here | Available now, often after a wait list | Pending federal approval (August 2026) |
| Doctors | Keep your own Medicare doctors | The PACE team's doctors |
| Scope | Long-term care services | All medical and long-term care |
Sources: Chapters 408, 429 and 651, Florida Statutes; Florida Administrative Code chapters 59A-36 and 65A-2; publications of AHCA, DCF, OIR and the Department of Elder Affairs; and the CareScout and VA tables named on the page. See our editorial standards for how figures are checked.
