Medicare-Medicaid Pay-Down of Assets
State law and regulations impose income and asset limits on persons applying for Medicaid.
The income limit for the institutional Medicaid program and certain home and community-based waiver programs is determined by the Med-QUEST Division of the State of Hawai'i Department of Human Services and published in the MAGI and MAGI-Excepted Income Standards Chart. For 2025, there is no hard Medicaid income limit for individuals eligible for the Nursing Home (institutional) program. Instead, one's entire income except for $75 per month must go towards the cost of care. To qualify for Medicaid through SSI the income limit for an aged, blind or disabled individual cannot exceed $1,500 per month, $2,027 for a couple.
To be eligible for Medicaid, an individual may not have assets in excess of $2,000 as of the first day of the month.
Hawai'i has a Medicaid Look-Back Period, which is 60 months (5 years) that immediately precedes the date of one’s Medicaid application. During this time frame, Medicaid checks all past asset transfers to ensure no assets were sold or given away for less than they are worth. This includes asset transfers made by one’s non-applicant spouse. If it is determined one is in violation of the look-back period, one will be penalized with a penalty period of Medicaid ineligibility.
Haw. Rev. Stat. 17-1719
Income Standards
Aged and Blind Group Standards
Medical Needy Spenddown