Medicaid home care in New York: who qualifies in 2026
The 2026 income and asset limits, what counts and what doesn't, and why there is no look-back for home care yet.
Many families think Medicaid only pays for nursing homes. In New York it also pays for care at home: home health aides, personal care, and programs that let a family member get paid to help. Here's who qualifies in 2026.
The 2026 limits (age 65+, blind or disabled)
| Single person | Married couple (both applying) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $1,836 | $2,489 |
| Asset (savings) limit | $33,038 | $44,796 |
Medicaid also ignores the first $20 of monthly income. These figures took effect January 1, 2026.
What doesn't count as an asset
- Your home, as long as you, your spouse or a dependent relative lives there. The 2026 home equity limit is $1,130,000, and it doesn't apply if a spouse or a minor or disabled child lives there.
- One car.
- Retirement accounts that are paying out monthly (the payments count as income instead).
- A prepaid funeral or burial fund, within limits.
Over the income limit? You may still qualify
Being over $1,836 a month does not mean no. You can have a "spend-down," and the most common fix is a pooled income trust: you deposit the extra income each month, and the trust pays your rent and bills from it. See our guide on pooled income trusts.
Married? The healthy spouse is protected
When one spouse needs care, the other spouse can usually keep much more than the limits above. In 2026, the at-home spouse can keep between $74,820 and $162,660 in assets, and may be entitled to up to $4,066.50 a month in income.
No look-back for home care (for now)
For nursing home Medicaid, the state looks back 5 years at gifts and transfers. For home care, there is currently no look-back. New York passed a 30-month home care look-back in 2020, but as of November 2026 it still has not started because it is waiting on federal approval. It could start with little notice, which is a reason to plan now rather than later.
How to start
- Get a doctor's order and an assessment of care needs.
- Gather 3 months of bank statements, proof of income, ID and immigration papers.
- Apply through HRA (in NYC) or your county's Department of Social Services.
General information, not legal advice. Figures verified November 2026 from New York State Department of Health notices.