Medicaid Eligibility Self-Check
This short, anonymous self-check helps you see which Long-Term Care Medicaid rules are likely to matter for you or a family member. It does not ask for a name, email or phone number, and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere. At the end, it lists the topics to read next. It cannot tell you whether you will be approved; only the state can decide that. But it can show where the likely hurdles are, so you can prepare.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
The self-check
What the self-check looks at
Long-Term Care Medicaid has several separate tests. A person must meet all of them.
1. Who the program is for
Long-Term Care Medicaid is generally for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Younger adults with disabilities may qualify through disability-based groups. See Eligibility overview.
2. The care test
Most long-term care programs require a nursing-home level of care: significant help with activities of daily living, a need for skilled nursing, or supervision because of cognitive impairment. Each state uses its own assessment. Some home care programs use a lower standard. See Level of care and Activities of daily living.
3. Where care is received
- Nursing homes: a required Medicaid benefit with no waiting list.
- Home and community care: usually through waivers, which may have enrollment caps and waiting lists.
- Assisted living: many states pay for care services through waivers; room and board is generally not covered.
See Three kinds of Long-Term Care Medicaid.
4. The income test
Many states use an income cap of $2,982 a month in 2026 (300 percent of the SSI benefit). People over the cap in those states usually need a Miller trust. Other states use a medically needy pathway. Either way, most income goes toward the cost of care after approval. See Income limits by state.
5. The asset test
A single applicant can usually keep about $2,000 in countable assets, though some states set higher limits. For married couples, the spouse at home can keep a protected share, from $32,532 to $162,660 in 2026 depending on the state and the couple’s assets. See Asset limits by state and CSRA.
6. The look-back
Gifts and below-value sales in the 60 months before applying (in most states) can cause a penalty period. See Five-year look-back.
7. The home
The home is often exempt while the person intends to return, or a spouse or certain relatives live there, subject to a home equity limit. After death, the state may seek repayment from the estate. See Your home and Medicaid.
Reading the result
The list you see is a set of topics to read, not a decision. A short list does not guarantee approval; a long list does not mean the person cannot qualify. Many people with income over the cap, assets over the limit, a home and past gifts still qualify after planning and an allowed spend-down. The goal is to know what to prepare for.
What to do next
- Read your state guide for the exact figures and programs.
- Use the other tools: the Spend-down estimator, Spousal allowance calculator, Penalty calculator and Home checker.
- Gather documents with the Printable documents checklist.
- Avoid gifts or large transfers until you understand the rules.
- Consider experienced help if the list includes a spouse at home, gifts, a home, income over the cap or a trust.
Common misunderstandings
- “We make too much to qualify.” Income over the cap does not end the matter in most states; a Miller trust or medically needy pathway may be available.
- “We’ll lose the house.” The home is often exempt during life; estate recovery after death has exceptions and can sometimes be planned for.
- “Mom has to be broke.” A married couple’s spouse at home can keep a significant share, and a single person can keep some exempt assets.
- “Gifts under the tax limit are fine.” The federal gift tax exclusion is not a Medicaid rule.
- “Medicare will pay.” Medicare pays only for short-term skilled care, not long-term custodial care. See Medicaid vs. Medicare.
Three example profiles
Profile 1: a widow entering a nursing home. Ruth is 88, widowed and has moderate dementia. She needs help with bathing, dressing and toileting and is moving to a nursing home. Her income is $2,100 a month, and she has $48,000 in savings and a paid-off home. She gave her grandson $10,000 two years ago. The self-check would flag: assets above $2,000 (a spend-down is needed), the gift (a possible penalty) and the home (exempt only in some situations once she moves). Her family should read about the spend-down, the look-back and the home before applying.
Profile 2: a married man who wants care at home. George is 79 and has Parkinson’s disease. His wife, Carol, cares for him at home and wants help. His income is $3,100 a month; hers is $1,400. They have $140,000 in savings and their home. The self-check would flag: income over $2,982 (a Miller trust may be needed in his state), the spousal protections (Carol can keep a share of the savings and may receive part of his income), and home care through a waiver (there may be a waiting list). The couple should read about Miller trusts, the CSRA and waivers, and get on any waiting list early.
Profile 3: a woman in assisted living. Helen is 85 and lives in assisted living, where she needs help with medications, bathing and dressing. Her income is $1,900 a month, and her savings are down to $3,500. She has no home and made no gifts. The self-check would flag: assets just over $2,000 (a small spend-down) and assisted living (Medicaid may cover care but not room and board, and the residence must accept Medicaid). She should check whether her residence participates in the state’s waiver and whether her income will cover room and board.
Questions to think about before applying
- Who will handle the application, and do they have legal authority, such as a power of attorney?
- When did the person first enter a hospital or nursing home for a long stay? That date can matter for married couples.
- What records exist for the past five years of bank accounts?
- Has anyone been paid to provide care, and is there a written agreement?
- Is a prepaid funeral plan in place?
- If there is a home, who lives there, and does the person hope to return?
- Does the person have VA benefits, long-term care insurance or a Medicare supplement?
Having answers ready makes the application faster and reduces the chance of a denial for missing information.
Privacy
This self-check runs entirely in your browser. It does not save your answers, send them anywhere or ask for contact information. Closing or refreshing the page clears it.
Getting experienced help
The self-check is a first step. For most families with a spouse at home, a home, gifts or income near the cap, a Certified Medicaid Planner can review the full situation and explain options under the state’s rules. As a rough guide, published fees for help with an application range from about $500 to $6,000, full planning from about $2,500 to $15,000 or more, and hourly help from about $150 to $600.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official state screening? No. It is a general education tool. States have their own screening and assessment processes.
Will my answers be saved? No. Nothing is stored or sent.
Can I use it for a parent? Yes. Enter the parent’s information.
What if I am not sure about the numbers? Use your best estimate, then check against recent statements before applying.
Does the self-check work for every state? It uses common federal and state figures. Some states use higher asset limits, different income rules or different care tests, so always check the state guide.
Can I run it more than once? Yes. Try different numbers to see how a spend-down or a change in income would affect the topics shown.
Related guides
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.