Nursing Home Medicaid Asset Limit
Nursing Home Medicaid Asset Limit
An applicant may have only $2,000 of “countable assets” to qualify for Medicaid. However, if the applicant’s monthly income is less than $891, they can keep $5,000 of assets and $6,000 for a spousal case. As of 2018, the community spouse resource allowance is $123,600 of countable assets.
Examples of countable assets include:
- CD’s
- Savings Accounts
- Checking Accounts
- Bonds
- Stocks
- Money Market Accounts
Examples of Excluded assets include:
- Homestead
- Vehicle
- Life Insurance
- Burial Funds and Prepaid Funeral Contracts
- Personal/Household Goods
- Retirement Accounts
- Properly Structured Immediate Annuities
- Ongoing Business Concerns
Those assets not classified as “countable assets” are referred to as “excluded assets” and are not counted by Medicaid.
Medicaid Excluded Assets
Homestead – The home is excluded if the spouse, or certain dependent relatives, continue to reside in the home, or the applicant intends on returning to the home.
Vehicle – One vehicle of any age may be excluded, along with a second vehicle if it’s over seven years old, and not an antique, luxury, or custom model.
Life Insurance – If the total face value of all of the policies exceeds $2500, the cash value would be considered an asset. If the total face value of all of the policies is less than or equals $2500, then the cash value would be excluded as an asset.
Burial Funds and Prepaid Funeral Contracts – In an irrevocable burial contract, the full value is excluded regardless of the amount. There is also a $2,500 exclusion of funds designated for burial expenses. A new bank account (e.g. John Smith Burial Account) may be established for this purpose. In addition, one burial plot is permitted for each family member.
Retirement accounts – Retirement accounts, including IRAs, are not counted, provided they are correctly structured, and the applicant and spouse take regular income distributions from the account.
Properly Structured Immediate Annuities – Those assets entered into properly structured, “Florida Medicaid-Friendly Annuities” are deemed excluded. Medicaid Annuities are frequently used to preserve a family’s assets. Medicaid has several requirements that must be met for the assets placed into the annuities to be excluded. If care is not taken to structure the annuity properly, the family may run the risk of tying up assets and being declined for Medicaid. As a result, it is imperative to secure the services of a knowledgeable Medicaid practitioner to structure the annuities properly.
Ongoing Business Concerns – Since they generate income for the applicant that is ultimately contributed towards the cost of care as patient responsibility, ongoing business concerns are typically excluded as assets. Another real property that is rented or listed for sale is also excluded.