Medicaid asset limits by state
The asset limit is usually what disqualifies a family, not the income limit. But the figure is set state by state — and copying another state’s number is how people make expensive mistakes.
What counts as an asset
- Counted: bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts (in most states), a second property, cash value of some life insurance
- Usually not counted: the home while a spouse lives in it, one vehicle, personal belongings and furniture
- Terminology varies: the federal Medicare site and some states say “resources”, others say “assets” — it is the same test
Why there is no national number
Income limits for long-term care are tied to SSI and are effectively uniform. Asset limits are not: some states use the old $2,000/$3,000 figures, others have raised them substantially. New York, for example, uses $32,396 for one person in 2026, while Texas still uses $2,000. Both are correct — in their own states.
What we publish, and what we refuse to
We publish the asset limit for a state only after checking that state’s own document, with the source linked and a review date shown. We do not reproduce a 50-state table copied from somewhere else, because a wrong number here sends a family down the wrong path with real money.
Verified so far
- Texas — income $994/month (couple $1,491), countable assets $2,000 (couple $3,000)
- New York — income $1,800/month (couple $2,433), countable assets $32,396 (couple $43,781)
The trap after the number
Even if you are over the limit, eligibility is not automatically closed: a spouse’s share is protected, some assets are exempt, and planning options exist. Moving assets around yourself, however, can trigger a penalty period. That is a specific legal question, and worth an hour with an elder law attorney before you move anything.
Sources
Related
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- Cost calculator
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