Medicaid & Nursing Homes

Medicaid Nursing Home Eligibility (2026) | All 50 States

Who qualifies for Medicaid nursing home care? Income limits, asset tests, level-of-care rules, and state-by-state links for families.

9 min readUpdated 2026-06-19

Medicaid nursing home eligibility requires meeting financial limits and a clinical determination that skilled nursing facility care is medically necessary. Unlike assisted living — where room and board is usually private pay — Medicaid covers nursing home room, board, and care for eligible residents in all 50 states.

This guide explains the three pillars of eligibility and links to state-specific income and asset limits.

Financial eligibility

Most states use SSI-related income standards near $2,829/month for individuals in 2026. Countable assets are commonly capped at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, with exclusions for a primary home (while a spouse lives there), one vehicle, and personal belongings.

Clinical eligibility

A state nurse or physician must certify nursing-facility level of care — help with multiple activities of daily living, medication management, or skilled nursing needs. Hospital discharge planners often initiate this assessment.

Medicaid nursing home guides by state

Sources

Medicaid.gov — Long-term services and supports
CMS — Nursing facility Medicaid coverage
Kaiser Family Foundation — Medicaid financial eligibility

Need help finding care near you?

Our free matching service connects families with assisted living and memory care options in their area — email first, no spam calls.

Get Free Matches