Medicare-Medicaid Pay-Down of Assets
State law and regulations impose income and asset limits on persons applying for Medicaid.
In 2025, single nursing home applicants can qualify for Institutional/Nursing Home Medicaid the applicant contributes nearly all, except $72.80 per month, towards their care costs, assets valued at less than $2,000, and require nursing home-level care. A person is eligible for MassHealth Senior Buy-In if his or her monthly income is no more than 133% of the federal poverty level. In 2025, for one person, the maximum income is $1,305, and for two people $1,736.
The maximum value of assets that may be retained by a person applying for medical assistance is $2000 for an individual, or $3000 for a couple. The MassHealth agency denies payment for nursing-facility services to an otherwise eligible nursing-facility resident who transfers or whose spouse transfers countable resources for less than fair-market value during or after the period of time referred to as the look-back period.
130 Mass. Code Regs. 519.010
-520.016 -.018
MassHealth Senior Guide to Healthcare Coverage, March 2025