New York Medicaid Long-Term Care Definition
Medicaid is a health care program for low-income persons of all ages. While there are numerous eligibility groups, including pregnant women, children, and disabled individuals, our focus is on long-term care Medicaid eligibility for elderly New Yorkers (aged 65 and over). In addition to nursing home care, NY Medicaid pays for non-medical services and supports to help frail seniors remain living at home or in the community. There are three categories of Medicaid long-term care programs for which New York seniors may be eligible.
1) Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid – An entitlement; anyone who is eligible will receive assistance. Care is provided only in nursing homes.
2) Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) – Not an entitlement; there are a limited number of participant slots and waiting lists may exist. Intended to delay nursing home admissions, services are provided at home, the home of a loved one, adult day care, or in assisted living.
3) Regular Medicaid / Disabled, Aged 65+ or Blind (DAB) – An entitlement; anyone who is eligible will receive assistance. Various long-term care services, such as personal care assistance or adult day care, may be available.
Medicaid in New York is sometimes called Medicaid Managed Care. Medicaid for the Disabled, Aged 65+ or Blind (DAB) is also called NON-MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) Medicaid. NY Medicaid, which is state and federally funded, is administered by the state under federally set parameters. New York’s Department of Health (DOH) in conjunction with local Departments of Social Services (DSS) administers the program.
Income & Asset Limits for Eligibility
Each of the three categories of Medicaid long-term care programs have varying functional and financial eligibility requirements. Financial eligibility criteria change annually, vary depending on marital status, and is further complicated by the fact that New York offers alternative pathways towards eligibility.
In 2025, a single Nursing Home Medicaid applicant must meet the following criteria: 1) Income under $1,799.75 / month 2) Assets under $30,182 3) Require a Nursing Home Level of Care.
The following table provides a quick reference to allow seniors to determine if they might be immediately eligible for long-term care from a New York Medicaid program. Alternatively, it may be helpful to take the Medicaid Eligibility Test. IMPORTANT: Not meeting all of the requirements does not mean one is ineligible for Medicaid or cannot become eligible. More.
2025 New York Medicaid Long Term Care Eligibility for Seniors | |||||||||
Type of Medicaid | Single | Married (both spouses applying) | Married (one spouse applying) | ||||||
Income Limit | Asset Limit | Level of Care Required | Income Limit | Asset Limit | Level of Care Required | Income Limit | Asset Limit | Level of Care Required | |
Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid | $1,799.75 / month* | $31,175 | Nursing Home | $2,432.25 / month* | $42,312 | Nursing Home | $1,799.75 / month for the applicant* | $31,175 for applicant & $157,920 for non-applicant | Nursing Home |
Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services | $1,799.75 / month† | $31,175 | Nursing Home | $2,432.25 / month† | $42,312 | Nursing Home | $1,799.75 / month for the applicant† | $31,175 for applicant & $157,920 for non-applicant | Nursing Home |
Regular Medicaid / Aged Blind and Disabled | $1,799.75 / month‡ | $31,175 | Help with ADLs | $2,432.25 / month‡ | $42,312 | Help with ADLs | $2,432.25 / month‡ | $42,312 | Help with ADLs |
†Based on one’s living setting, a program beneficiary may not be able keep monthly income up to this level.
‡Another pathway to Medicaid eligibility is through SSI. In New York, persons who are determined eligible for SSI are automatically approved for Regular Medicaid. This includes long-term services and supports via Regular Medicaid, given one meets the functional criteria.
Income Definition & Exceptions
Countable vs. Non-Countable Income
Nearly all sources of income are counted towards Medicaid’s income limit. This includes employment wages, alimony payments, pensions, Social Security Disability Income, Social Security Income, gifts, annuity payments, and IRA distributions. Nationally, Holocaust restitution payments are not counted as income. Furthermore, in NY, the VA Aid and Attendance, which is above and beyond the Basic VA Pension, does not count.
Treatment of Income for a Couple
When only one spouse of a married couple applies for Nursing Home Medicaid or a HCBS Waiver, the non-applicant spouse’s income is disregarded. Furthermore, the non-applicant spouse, also called a community spouse, is entitled to a minimum amount of monthly income to prevent spousal impoverishment. This is called a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance, and in NY, it is specifically called a Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance (CSMIA).
The CSMIA allows an applicant spouse to supplement their spouse’s income by transferring some, or in some cases, all of their income to their spouse. In 2025, the CSMIA is $3,948. If the non-applicant spouse has monthly income under this amount, they can receive income from their applicant spouse to bring their monthly income up to this amount. If the non-applicant spouse already has a monthly income of $3,948 or more, they will not receive a CSMIA. Furthermore, Medicaid will request that 25% of the “excess” income (over $3,848 / month) go towards the applicant spouse’s care costs. An applicant spouse in this situation can institute Spousal Refusal.
Income is counted differently when only one spouse applies for Regular Medicaid / Disabled, Aged 65+ or Blind; the income of both the applicant and non-applicant spouse is calculated towards the applicant’s income eligibility. Note: There is no Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance for a non-applicant spouse. More on how Medicaid counts income.
Asset Definition & Exceptions
Countable vs. Non-Countable Assets
Countable assets (often called resources) are calculated towards Medicaid’s asset limit. This includes cash, stocks, bonds, investments, vacation homes, and bank accounts (i.e., checking, savings, money market). There are also exempt (non-countable) assets. Exemptions generally include one’s primary home, personal belongings, household items, a vehicle, burial funds up to $1,500 or a life insurance policy with a cash value up to $1,500, and non-refundable pre-paid funeral agreements. In New York, IRAs and 401Ks in payout status are exempt. This means that one’s required minimum distribution (RMD) is being withdrawn.
Treatment of Assets for a Couple
All assets of a married couple are considered jointly owned (regardless of the long-term care Medicaid program for which one or both spouses is applying). There is, however, a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) that protects a larger portion of a couple’s assets for the non-applicant spouse of a Medicaid Nursing Home or HCBS Waiver applicant. This is intended to prevent the non-applicant spouse from becoming impoverished, and in 2025, allows that spouse to keep 50% of the couple’s assets, up to a maximum of $157,920. If 50% of the couple’s assets is under $74,820, the non-applicant spouse can keep 100% of their assets, up to $74,820. Note: There is no CSRA for a non-applicant spouse.
Medicaid’s Look-Back Rule
New York has a 60-month Medicaid Look-Back Period for Institutional (Nursing Home) Medicaid that immediately precedes one’s Medicaid application date. During which, Medicaid scrutinizes all asset transfers to ensure none were gifted or sold under fair market value. This includes transfers made by one’s spouse. The “look back” is intended to discourage persons from gifting assets to meet Medicaid’s asset limit. Violating this rule is cause for a Penalty Period of Medicaid ineligibility. Note: The Look-Back Period does not apply to Regular Medicaid or Home and Community Based Services.
The U.S. Federal Gift Tax Rule does not extend to Medicaid eligibility. In 2025, this rule allows individuals to gift up to $19,000 per recipient without filing a Gift Tax Return. Gifting under this rule violates Medicaid’s Look-Back Period.
New York Medicaid Home Exemption Rules
For home exemption, the Medicaid applicant or their spouse must live in their home. If there is no spouse in the home, there is a home equity interest limit of $1,097,000 (in 2025). Home equity is the value of the home, minus any outstanding debt against it. Equity interest is the amount of the home’s equity that is owned by the applicant. Furthermore, if neither the applicant nor their spouse live in the home, the applicant must have Intent to Return. Note: For Regular Medicaid, there is no home equity interest limit. Other exemptions exist.
While one’s home is generally exempt from Medicaid’s asset limit, it is not exempt from Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Program. Following a long-term care Medicaid beneficiary’s death, the New York Medicaid agency attempts reimbursement of care costs through whatever estate of the deceased still remains. This is often the home. Without proper planning strategies in place, the home will be used to reimburse Medicaid for providing care rather than going to family as inheritance.
Medical / Functional Need Requirements
An applicant must have a functional need for long-term care Medicaid. For Nursing Home Medicaid and HCBS Medicaid Waivers, a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) is required. This determination is based on an assessment of needs. Furthermore, additional criteria may need to be met for specific program benefits. As an example, for a Medicaid Waiver to cover the cost of home modifications, an inability to safely and independently live at home without modifications may be required. For long-term care services via the Regular Medicaid program, a functional need with Activities of Daily Living may be required, but a NFLOC is not necessarily required.
Qualifying When Over the Limits
There are other ways for New York senior residents to qualify for Medicaid if they do not meet the financial eligibility requirements above.
1) Medically Needy Pathway – New York has a Medicaid Excess Income Program that allows persons over Medicaid’s income limit to still become income-eligible if they have high medical bills. Also called a Spenddown Program or Surplus Income Program, one’s “excess income” goes towards medical bills, such as medical supplies, prescription drugs, and doctor visits. In 2025, the medically needy income level is $1,799.75 / month for a single applicant and $2,432.50 / month for a couple. The “spend down” amount is the difference between one’s monthly income and the medically needy income level. This can be thought of as a deductible. Once the “spend down” has been met, one will be Medicaid-eligible for the remainder of the month. The medically needy asset limit is $31,175 for an individual and $42,312 for a couple.
2) Pooled Income Trusts – Persons who are disabled in NY and have income over Medicaid’s income limit can become income-eligible by depositing their “excess” income into a Pooled Income Trust. A type of “Supplemental Needs Trust”, this option can eliminate one’s need to “spend down” income, as discussed above. While income deposited into the trust does not count towards Medicaid’s income limit, trust funds can only be used for limited purposes, such as paying the Medicaid recipient’s bills.
3) Asset Spend Down – Persons who have countable assets over NY Medicaid’s asset limit can “spend down” assets to become asset-eligible. For instance, one can pay past due medical bills (within the last six years), pay for in-home care, and make home modifications to improve safety and independence, such as installing wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, and making a bathroom wheelchair accessible. One can also prepay funeral and burial expenses, as well as pay off their mortgage or credit card debt. Remember, assets cannot be gifted or sold under fair market value within 60-months of Nursing Home Medicaid application. Doing so violates Medicaid’s Look-Back Rule and can result in a Penalty Period of Medicaid ineligibility. It is recommended one keep documentation of how assets were spent as proof this rule was not violated.
4) Medicaid Planning – The majority of persons considering Medicaid are over the income and / or asset limit(s), but they still cannot afford their cost of care. For these persons, Medicaid planning exists. By working with a Medicaid Planning Professional, families can employ a variety of strategies to help them become Medicaid-eligible, as well as protect their home from Medicaid’s Estate Recovery program. Connect with a Certified Medicaid Planner.
Specific New York Medicaid Programs
In addition to paying for nursing home care, New York Medicaid offers the following programs relevant to the elderly that help them to live at home or in the community.
1) New York Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) Program Waiver – Intended for seniors who require a Nursing Facility Level of Care, but who prefer to live at home or in an assisted living facility. Long-term care supports are provided to promote independence and may include personal care assistance, adult day care, meal delivery, and home modifications. Persons can self-direct their personal care services via a service delivery option called the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). This allows one to hire the personal care assistant of their choosing, including select relatives.
2) New York Community First Choice Option (CFCO) – An option that allows elderly individuals to receive long-term Home and Community Based Services under the state Medicaid plan. These benefits might include assistance with daily living activities, home health aides, and assistive technology. The consumer-directed option, CDPAP, mentioned above, is available to CFCO program participants.
3) New York Assisted Living Program (ALP) – Pays for services in adult care facilities for seniors who require a Nursing Home Level of Care. These services might include skilled nursing, personal care, personal emergency response systems, and housecleaning.
4) Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver – Helps nursing home residents transition back to community living by providing assistance with a security deposit, utility set-up fees, and essential home furnishings. Long-term services and supports are also provided for seniors and adults who are physically disabled and at risk of nursing home admission. Benefits might include assistive technology, home modifications, personal care assistance, and homemaker services, among many others.
5) State Plan Personal Care Services (PCS) Program – For New Yorkers who are elderly or disabled and have a medical need for assistance with daily living activities. Housekeeping and personal care services are available and may include help with bathing, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, laundry, shopping for groceries, and light housecleaning.
6) Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) – The benefits of Medicaid, including long-term care, and Medicare are combined into a single program. Additional benefits, such as dental and eye care, may be available.
7) Money Follows the Person (MFP) – Also called Open Doors in New York. This federal program helps institutionalized persons who are eligible for Medicaid to transition back home or into the community.
How to Apply for New York Medicaid
Seniors in New York can apply for Medicaid in person at their Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) office, or alternatively, they can call their local office and apply via phone. The Medicaid Application for Non-MAGI Eligibility Group (for older adults, people with disabilities and certain other populations) and the Supplement A form can be found on this webpage. There is not an option for New Yorkers 65+ years old to apply online. For program questions or for application assistance, persons can call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-800-541-2831. One’s local Area Agency on Aging office may also be helpful in answering program questions and assisting persons with applying for Medicaid. Furthermore, a Facilitated Enroller for the Aged, Blind and Disabled can provide assistance. The application process may vary based on the program for which one is applying.
New York Medicaid applicants should be certain that all eligibility requirements are met prior to submitting an application for benefits. For seniors who have income and / or asset(s) greater than the allowable amounts, Medicaid Planning can be invaluable. Furthermore, the application process is complicated and assistance with the process may be welcomed. Familiarizing oneself with general information about the application process for long-term care Medicaid can be helpful.