Nursing home Medicaid rules by state
Medicaid pays for more long-term nursing home care than any other source. Each state sets its own limits within federal rules. Choose a state for its asset and income limits, how to apply, and where to get free help.
| State | Asset limit | Income rule | Personal needs allowance | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $30 | medicaid.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $200 | dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us |
| Arizona | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $149.10 | azahcccs.gov |
| Arkansas | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $40 | humanservices.arkansas.gov |
| California | $130,000 | No cap; share of cost | $35 | dhcs.ca.gov |
| Colorado | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $110.36 | hcpf.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | $1,600 | Spend-down above $2,982/mo | $75 | portal.ct.gov |
| Delaware | $2,000 | $2,485/mo cap* | $75 | dhss.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia | $4,000 | Spend-down above $2,982/mo | $109 | dhcf.dc.gov |
| Florida | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $160 | myflfamilies.com |
| Georgia | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $70 | pamms.dhs.ga.gov |
| Hawaii | $2,000 | Spend-down | $75 | medquest.hawaii.gov |
| Idaho | $2,000 | $3,002/mo cap* | $40 | healthandwelfare.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | $17,500 | Spend-down | $60 | dhs.state.il.us |
| Indiana | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $52 | in.gov |
| Iowa | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $55 | hhs.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | $2,000 | No cap; pays toward care | $62 | khap.kdhe.ks.gov |
| Kentucky | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $60 | apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | $2,000 | $2,982/mo, then spend-down | $45 | ldh.la.gov |
| Maine | $2,000 | Spend-down | $40 | maine.gov |
| Maryland | $2,500 | Spend-down | $109 | health.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | $2,000 | Spend-down | $72.80 | mass.gov |
| Michigan | $9,950 | Spend-down above $2,982/mo | $60 | dhhs.michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | $3,000 | Spend-down | $132 | hcopub.dhs.state.mn.us |
| Mississippi | $4,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $44 | medicaid.ms.gov |
| Missouri | $6,220.50 | No cap; pays toward care | $50 | dssmanuals.mo.gov |
| Montana | $2,000 | Spend-down | $50 | dphhs.mt.gov |
| Nebraska | $4,000 | Spend-down | $75 | dhhs.ne.gov |
| Nevada | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $154 (2024; rises yearly) | dwss.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | $7,500 | Spend-down | $93 | medicaid.gov |
| New Jersey | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $50 | nj.gov |
| New Mexico | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $97 | srca.nm.gov |
| New York | $33,038 | Spend-down | $50 | healthweb-back.health.ny.gov |
| North Carolina | $2,000 | Spend-down | $70 | policies.ncdhhs.gov |
| North Dakota | $3,000 | Spend-down | $118 | nd.gov |
| Ohio | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $75 | codes.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $75 | oklahoma.gov |
| Oregon | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $81.28 | ch461rules.odhs.oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | $8,000 | No cap; spend-down | $60 | pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | $4,000 | Spend-down | $75 | rules.sos.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $60 | scdhhs.gov |
| South Dakota | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $100 | sdlegislature.gov |
| Tennessee | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $70 | tn.gov |
| Texas | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $75 | fhb.hhs.texas.gov |
| Utah | $2,000 | No cap; pays toward care | $45 | oepmanuals.dhhs.utah.gov |
| Vermont | $2,000 | Spend-down | $79.93 | dvha.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | $2,000 | Spend-down | $40 | dmas.virginia.gov |
| Washington | $2,000 | Spend-down | $108.74 | hca.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | $2,000 | Spend-down | $50 | oig.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | $2,000 | Spend-down | $55 | emhandbooks.wisconsin.gov |
| Wyoming | $2,000 | $2,982/mo cap* | $50 | ecom.wyo.gov |
* Income over the cap? In these states most people can still qualify by putting the extra income into a Qualified Income Trust (a “Miller trust”). “Spend-down” means income above the limit goes toward care and Medicaid pays the rest. All figures checked against official sources October 2026; each state’s page lists every source.
Federal rules for married couples (2026)
The spouse who stays at home can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in savings, and at least $2,705 a month in income in most states (up to $4,066.50). Each state page explains more.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Confirm with your state’s Medicaid agency. Medicare vs. Medicaid · Paying for long-term care