For most New York families, Medicaid is the program that pays for long-term home care. Whether a parent qualifies comes down to two numbers. In 2026, a single person in New York can have up to $1,836 a month in income and $33,038 in assets and still qualify for Medicaid home care. For a married couple, the limits are $2,489 a month and $44,796.
Those limits are lower than many families expect, but they are not the end of the story. Much of what a family owns does not count, and people whose income is over the limit often qualify anyway. This guide explains the 2026 figures, what counts toward them, what happens if you are over, and how New York protects the spouse who stays at home. Every figure here comes from the New York State Department of Health and is current for 2026.
New York Medicaid Limits for 2026 at a Glance
| 2026 figure | Single | Married couple |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $1,836 | $2,489 |
| Annual income limit | $22,025 | $29,864 |
| Asset (resource) limit | $33,038 | $44,796 |
| Home equity limit | $1,130,000 | |
| Look-back for home care | None in effect yet | |
Source: New York State Department of Health, 2026 Medicaid income and resource standards (GIS 26 MA/03 and 26 MA/05).
2026 Medicaid Income Limits in New York
The New York Medicaid income limit for 2026 is $1,836 a month for a single person and $2,489 a month for a couple, which is 138 percent of the federal poverty level. These figures took effect on January 1, 2026, and New York updates them every year.
Medicaid starts from gross income, meaning the amount before anything is taken out. That includes Social Security, pensions, wages, annuity payments, and regular distributions from an IRA. It then allows some deductions. Every applicant gets a $20 deduction from unearned income, although a married couple applying together gets only one. Health insurance premiums are also deducted, and that includes the Medicare Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026. For many older New Yorkers, those two deductions alone move a borderline income under the limit.
How the rules apply also depends on age. People who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled are assessed under what New York calls the non-MAGI rules, and those rules count both income and assets. Adults under 65 without Medicare are usually assessed under the MAGI rules, which use the same 138 percent income level but have no asset test at all. Most families arranging home care for a parent will be dealing with the non-MAGI rules, and that is what the rest of this guide describes.
2026 Medicaid Asset Limits in New York
The New York Medicaid asset limit for 2026 is $33,038 for a single person and $44,796 for a married couple. Medicaid calls these “resources.” Countable resources include cash, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks and bonds, the cash value of life insurance, and IRAs that are not yet paying out.
Just as important is what does not count. For a home care applicant, the family home is exempt as long as the equity in it is no more than $1,130,000. That cap does not apply if a spouse, a child under 21, or a disabled child lives in the home. One car is generally exempt, as are personal belongings and household goods. A prepaid funeral arrangement is exempt, and a separate burial fund of up to $1,500 can be set aside. An IRA that is paying regular distributions is usually not counted as a resource, though the distributions themselves count as income. The rules on retirement accounts are technical, which is one reason families with significant savings speak to an elder law attorney before applying.
What Happens If Your Income Is Over the New York Limit
Being over the income limit does not mean being shut out of Medicaid. New York uses what is called a spend-down, sometimes described as an “excess income” program. Medicaid works out how much of your monthly income is over the limit, and once your medical bills for the month reach that amount, Medicaid covers the rest. In practice, this works like a monthly deductible.
For people who need ongoing home care, a spend-down can be hard to manage month after month. That is why many New York families use a pooled supplemental needs trust instead. Pooled trusts are run by nonprofit organizations. Each month, the person receiving care deposits their excess income into the trust, and the trust uses that money to pay their household bills, such as rent, utilities, and food. Because the excess income goes into the trust, it is no longer counted, the spend-down disappears, and the person keeps the benefit of their own money. Setting up a pooled trust takes paperwork and some lead time, so it is best started alongside the Medicaid application rather than afterwards.
Married Couples in New York: Protecting the Spouse at Home
When one spouse needs home care and the other does not, New York does not expect the healthy spouse to be left with nothing. Under the spousal impoverishment rules that apply to managed long-term care, the spouse at home, called the community spouse, can keep a share of the couple’s assets. In 2026 that is generally half of the couple’s countable assets, with a minimum of $74,820 and a maximum of $162,660. The community spouse can also keep income up to $4,066.50 a month, and if their own income falls short of that amount, some of the applicant’s income can be passed to them to make up the difference.
New York also allows something many other states do not, known as spousal refusal. The community spouse can sign a statement declining to make their income and assets available for the applicant’s care, and Medicaid then looks only at the applicant’s own finances. Spousal refusal is legal and widely used in New York, but Medicaid can later ask the community spouse to contribute, so couples should take legal advice before relying on it.
Look-Back Rules for Home Care in New York (2026)
A look-back is the period Medicaid reviews for gifts or transfers made to qualify. For nursing home care in New York, the look-back is five years, and gifts made in that window can delay coverage.
For home care, there is currently no look-back. New York passed a law in 2020 to introduce a 30-month look-back for community-based care, including home care, but as of late 2026 the State has still not set a date to begin it. That means a transfer of assets today does not, on its own, delay Medicaid home care. Because that could change with relatively short notice, and because a transfer that is fine for home care could still count against a later nursing home application, families should not move money without professional advice. We will update this section when the State announces a start date.
After You Qualify: Assessment and Plan Choice in New York
Meeting the income and asset limits is the financial half of Medicaid home care. The other half is need. Before home care is authorized, the New York Independent Assessor carries out an assessment to confirm the person needs help with everyday activities, and most people then choose a Managed Long Term Care plan, which arranges the care through agencies like ours. Where someone needs care urgently, New York has an Immediate Need process that moves the application along more quickly.
Our family guide to how Medicaid home care works in New York walks through every step, from the application to the first day of care, and our guide to Managed Long Term Care plans explains how to choose one. If a doctor’s statement is needed, our M11Q form page explains what it is and how to get it completed.
If You Are Not Eligible for Medicaid in New York Yet
Some families are over the limits today, or need care before an application can be approved. For them, home care is usually paid for privately, through long-term care insurance, or through programs such as EISEP for people who are not Medicaid-eligible. Our guide to what home care costs in New York sets out current rates, and paying for home care without Medicaid covers every option. Our private pay home care service can provide care while an application is pending.
Getting Help With Medicaid Home Care in New York
Medicaid rules are detailed, the figures change every January, and small details such as an IRA’s payout status or a spouse’s income can change the outcome. The families who have the smoothest experience usually have someone to call: an elder law attorney for the financial planning, and an experienced home care agency for the care itself.
Caring Professionals has helped New York families arrange home care through Medicaid for more than 30 years, across New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. We can explain what to expect at each stage, from the assessment to the first visit. You can find out more about Medicaid home care with Caring Professionals, contact us online, or call (718) 333-1400.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Figures are for 2026 and are taken from the New York State Department of Health. Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Medicaid Limits
What is the Medicaid income limit in New York for 2026?
For people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, the 2026 limit is $1,836 a month for a single person and $2,489 a month for a married couple. Medicaid deducts $20 and health insurance premiums, including the Medicare Part B premium, before comparing income with the limit.
What is the Medicaid asset limit in New York for 2026?
The 2026 asset limit is $33,038 for a single person and $44,796 for a married couple. The home, one car, personal belongings, a prepaid funeral, and a burial fund of up to $1,500 do not count.
Does Medicaid count my house in New York?
Not for home care, provided the equity is no more than $1,130,000 in 2026. The equity cap does not apply if a spouse, a child under 21, or a disabled child lives in the home.
Can I still get Medicaid if my income is over the limit?
Yes. New York’s spend-down lets you qualify once your monthly medical costs reach the amount you are over the limit. Many people receiving home care use a pooled supplemental needs trust to shelter their excess income and avoid the spend-down altogether.
Is there a look-back period for home care in New York?
Not yet. A 30-month look-back for home care was passed into law in 2020, but as of late 2026 New York has not set a date to start it. Nursing home care has a five-year look-back.
What can the spouse at home keep?
In 2026, the spouse at home can generally keep half of the couple’s countable assets, between $74,820 and $162,660, and income of up to $4,066.50 a month. New York also allows spousal refusal, which should be discussed with an elder law attorney first.
