Updated Medicaid Eligibility Numbers
It’s that time of the year again — each year Medicaid income and resource eligibility figures are updated. Although Medicaid is a program for those who have very little in income and assets/resources, those who currently have more than the Medicaid eligibility rules allow can still receive benefits with proper planning and without having to spend down a lifetime of savings. Here are the 2026 updated eligibility figures:
- A Medicaid applicant can have no more than $33,038 in non-qualified resources. [Residences and retirement funds continue to be protected in certain circumstances]. For a married couple, the resource limit is $44,796.
- A Medicaid home care applicant who is 65 or older can retain monthly income of $1,856. For a married couple over age 65 the income limit is $2,509. It is important to note that with proper planning, a Medicaid home care applicant can still qualify for Medicaid home care benefits even if their monthly income exceeds these figures and such surplus income can be preserved.
- The healthy spouse residing at home (the “community spouse”) whose partner is a resident of a nursing home can retain $4,066.50 in monthly income.
- Spousal Impoverishment budgeting rules allow the community spouse to have available resources of up to $162,660. Even when the community spouse has assets that exceed this allowance, there are strategies available to still achieve Medicaid eligibility.
Navigating Medicaid eligibility can be extremely challenging. We can help. This is our field of expertise. If you are unsure whether you or a loved one qualify for Medicaid benefits based on the above information, please give us a call or email us! We are here to assist you in finding a strategy that will fit your particular situation. As knowledgeable Elder Law attorneys, we can provide the legal advice you need to achieve Medicaid eligibility without losing all income or spending down an entire lifetime of assets.
