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 Department of Health Care Finance. For 2025, the Medicaid income limit for individuals eligible for the Nursing Home (institutional) program requires that the individual have income equal to or less than $2,901, which is 300% of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment level (individuals eligible for SSI can receive long term care services, plus full Medicaid benefits) and have resources up to $4000 for one person or $6,000 for a married couple. Resources include, but are not limited to: cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, trusts, annuities, property and life insurance. Resources do not include the value of a home, one vehicle and ordinary home and personal goods.
The spenddown eligibility period is six months. Once the individual meets the spend-down obligation for the six month period, he or she will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid from the first day of the month in which the individual meets the spend-down obligation through the rest of the six month period. At the end of the six month period, the individual must file a new application for Medicaid to re-determine their eligibility and/or spend down obligation for the next six month period.
Department of Health Care Finance – Long Term Care Eligibility Requirements