Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility Calculator
Check 2026 Medicaid nursing home eligibility, income limits, and spousal asset protections for long-term care.
In 2026, nursing home Medicaid allows a single applicant up to $2,982 a month in income, far more than regular Medicaid allows. In most states, your own countable assets have to be under $2,000. A spouse who stays at home can keep $32,532 to $162,660 plus the house. You also need a state assessment showing you need nursing-home-level care.
To get Medicaid to pay for a nursing home, you have to pass a money test and a medical test. Married couples also get protections for the spouse at home that other types of Medicaid don't offer. Fill in the form to see how you stand on each requirement.
Check Your Long-Term Care Medicaid Eligibility
Your at-home spouse could keep:
This is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). The spouse at home keeps half of the couple's countable assets, but never less than $32,532 or more than $162,660. That amount doesn't count toward your $2,000 limit, and the house is excluded too as long as your spouse lives there.
Your income is over the limit, but you may still qualify. Many states let you open a Qualified Income Trust (also called a Miller Trust), deposit the excess income into it each month, and qualify that way. Not every state offers one, and this tool can't model it. Ask your state Medicaid agency or an elder law attorney.
Before approving an application, the state reviews the last 5 years (60 months) of your finances. Gifts or below-value transfers in that window can trigger a penalty period. See this site's Medicaid Look-Back Period Estimator for details.
The 2026 income limit for nursing home Medicaid is $2,982 a month, exactly three times the 2026 SSI benefit of $994. Only the applicant's income counts. A husband's pension or a wife's Social Security check stays with the spouse at home and doesn't affect the applicant's eligibility.
Assets are split differently. The applicant usually has to get their own countable assets under $2,000. The spouse at home keeps half of the couple's combined countable assets, within a floor of $32,532 and a ceiling of $162,660. For a couple with $200,000 in savings, the at-home spouse keeps $100,000. For a couple with $50,000, half would be $25,000, which is below the floor, so the spouse keeps $32,532. The house, one car and household goods aren't counted while the spouse lives there.
Income over $2,982 doesn't automatically disqualify you, because many states allow a Qualified Income Trust. You'll also need a state assessment showing that you need nursing-facility-level care. Expect the state to review five years of bank records, called the look-back period, for gifts or transfers that could delay coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicaid income limit for nursing home care in 2026?
$2,982 a month for a single applicant. If both spouses are applying, the limit is $5,964 a month. That's much higher than the regular Medicaid limit because nursing home care costs so much more.
Does my spouse have to become impoverished for me to qualify for nursing home Medicaid?
No. Federal spousal impoverishment rules let the spouse at home keep $32,532 to $162,660 in assets, plus the house. Only the applicant has to get down to the $2,000 limit.
What if my income is above the $2,982 limit?
Check whether your state allows a Qualified Income Trust, also called a Miller Trust. You deposit the income over the limit into the trust each month, and that income no longer counts against you. An elder law attorney can set one up.
Does the home count as an asset for Medicaid nursing home eligibility?
Usually not while a spouse, a minor child or a disabled child lives there. If no one in that group lives there, the home is exempt only up to an equity limit, which ranges from $752,000 to $1,130,000 depending on the state.
Do I need to have been diagnosed as needing nursing home care to qualify?
Yes. The state has to find that you need nursing-facility-level care, which usually means help with daily activities like bathing, dressing or eating. This medical test is separate from the income and asset tests.
Does Medicaid check my financial history before approving nursing home coverage?
Yes. Most states review the 60 months before you apply. A gift or below-market sale in that window can create a penalty period with no coverage. Our Medicaid Look-Back Period Estimator shows how long that penalty might last.
This estimate is based on 2026 federal long-term care Medicaid rules. It isn't an eligibility decision or legal advice. Home equity limits, Qualified Income Trusts and asset limits vary by state. Only your state Medicaid agency can decide eligibility. If you're married, own a home, or made gifts in the last five years, talk to an elder law attorney before you apply.