Nursing Home Medicaid Application Help in NY | HV Senior Advocates
New York Nursing Home Medicaid Application Requirements
New York Nursing Home Medicaid may help cover long-term care expenses for applicants who meet medical, financial and other program requirements. Eligibility is based on the applicant’s individual circumstances.
Medical and Nursing-Home Requirements
The applicant generally must:
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Require a nursing-home level of care
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Be admitted to or residing in a Medicaid-certified nursing facility
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Have care needs that cannot safely be met in a less restrictive setting
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Provide the required medical and facility documentation
New York Residency and Identity
Applicants must provide documentation establishing:
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Identity
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New York State residency
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Social Security number
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U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status
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Marital status, when applicable
Financial Resource Limit
For 2026, a single nursing-home Medicaid applicant may generally retain up to $33,038 in countable resources.
Countable resources may include:
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Checking and savings accounts
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Certificates of deposit
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Stocks, bonds and investment accounts
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Certain retirement accounts
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Nonqualified annuities
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Cash-value life insurance
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Additional real estate
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Other accessible financial assets
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Some assets may be exempt or treated differently, including certain personal property, one vehicle, qualifying funeral arrangements and a primary residence under specific circumstances.
Income Requirements
A nursing-home resident generally contributes most of their monthly income toward the cost of care after allowable deductions.
Allowable deductions may include:
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A $50 monthly personal-needs allowance
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Certain health-insurance premiums
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Allowances for a community spouse or dependent family member, when applicable
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Other Medicaid-approved deductions
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Having income above the regular Community Medicaid limit does not automatically make someone ineligible for Nursing Home Medicaid.
Strict 5 year look-back
New York currently reviews financial activity during the 60 months immediately preceding the nursing-home Medicaid application period.
The review may include:
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Gifts to family members
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Large cash withdrawals
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Transfers between accounts
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Property transfers
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Checks written to individuals
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Assets sold below fair-market value
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Closed accounts
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Changes in account ownership
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Transfers into or out of trusts
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Unexplained deposits and withdrawals
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Transfers made for less than fair-market value may result in a Medicaid penalty period unless an exemption or satisfactory explanation applies. New York State application guidance
How we can help
Hudson Valley Medicaid Planning assists families with reviewing eligibility, identifying required documentation, organizing five years of financial records, preparing the Medicaid application, responding to county requests and advocating throughout the eligibility process. If your loved one is entering a nursing home or already receiving care, contact us for a free consultation.
