If you or a loved one may need nursing home care or long-term care services in Florida, understanding Medicaid’s income and asset limits is the first step. These numbers change every year, and the difference between qualifying and being denied often comes down to a few hundred dollars a month.
Here are the current 2026 Florida Medicaid limits — and what to do if you’re over them.
2026 Florida Medicaid Limits at a Glance
Income Limits Explained
Florida’s Long-Term Care Medicaid (also called ICP — Institutional Care Program) uses a monthly income cap equal to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). For 2026, that cap is $2,982 per month.
What Counts as Income?
Medicaid counts your gross income (before deductions) from all sources:
| Counted as Income | NOT Counted as Income |
|---|---|
| Social Security (retirement & SSDI) | VA Aid & Attendance benefits |
| Pension payments | Food stamps / SNAP |
| IRA withdrawals / Required Minimum Distributions | Gifts from family members |
| Rental income from property | Loans (must be documented) |
| Wages and self-employment income | Tax refunds |
| Alimony received | One-time insurance settlements (case-by-case) |
| Dividends, interest, and capital gains | |
| Workers’ compensation |
What If My Income Exceeds $2,982/Month?
You establish a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also called a Miller Trust. Each month, you deposit your income into the trust. The trust then pays:
- A $160 personal needs allowance back to you
- Your Medicare premiums
- A spousal maintenance allowance (MMMNA) to your spouse if applicable
- The remaining balance to the nursing facility
A QIT is a standard legal tool that a Medicaid planning attorney can set up quickly. It does not shelter assets or hide income — it simply routes your income in the way Florida requires.
Asset Limits Explained
To qualify for Long-Term Care Medicaid, your countable assets must be at or below:
Countable vs. Exempt Assets
| Countable (Must Spend Down) | Exempt (Does NOT Count) |
|---|---|
| Cash, checking, and savings accounts | Primary residence (equity under $752,000) |
| Stocks, bonds, mutual funds | One vehicle (any value) |
| Certificates of deposit (CDs) | Personal belongings and household furnishings |
| Non-primary real estate | Irrevocable prepaid funeral/burial contracts |
| Additional vehicles | Term life insurance (no cash value) |
| Life insurance with cash value over $2,500 | Wedding and engagement rings |
| Cryptocurrency | Medical equipment |
| Investment property | IRAs/401(k)s in payout status (counted as income instead) |
Spousal Protections: Keeping the Healthy Spouse Out of Poverty
When only one spouse needs nursing home care, federal law protects the “community spouse” (the healthy spouse who stays home) from being impoverished.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)
The community spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in countable assets, depending on the couple’s total resources. Only assets above the CSRA must be spent down.
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
The community spouse is guaranteed a minimum monthly income of $2,644 (up to a maximum of $4,067). If the community spouse’s own income is less than $2,644, the Medicaid recipient’s income can be diverted to make up the difference.
Regular Medicaid vs. Long-Term Care Medicaid
Many people confuse Regular Medicaid (MEDS-AD) with Long-Term Care Medicaid (ICP/SMMC-LTC). They have very different rules:
| Factor | Regular Medicaid (MEDS-AD) | Long-Term Care Medicaid (ICP / SMMC-LTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (single) | $1,171/month | $2,982/month |
| Asset limit (single) | $5,000 | $2,000 |
| Level of care required | None | Must need nursing facility level of care |
| Look-back period | None | 60 months |
| Spousal protections (CSRA/MMMNA) | None | Yes — up to $162,660 / $4,067 |
| QIT required if over income | No | Yes |
| Covers nursing home | No | Yes |
What Changed from 2025 to 2026?
| Limit | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICP income limit | $2,829/mo | $2,982/mo | ↑ +$153 |
| CSRA maximum | $154,140 | $162,660 | ↑ +$8,520 |
| CSRA minimum | $30,828 | $32,532 | ↑ +$1,704 |
| MMMNA minimum | $2,555/mo | $2,644/mo | ↑ +$89 |
| MMMNA maximum | $3,853/mo | $4,067/mo | ↑ +$214 |
| Home equity limit | $713,000 | $752,000 | ↑ +$39,000 |
| Regular Medicaid income | $1,073/mo | $1,171/mo | ↑ +$98 |
| Individual asset limit | $2,000 | $2,000 | No change |
| Personal needs allowance | $160/mo | $160/mo | No change |
| Penalty divisor | $10,645/mo | $10,645/mo | No change |
The 60-Month Look-Back Period
Long-Term Care Medicaid has a 60-month (5-year) look-back period. When you apply, DCF reviews all asset transfers made during the previous 5 years. Any transfer made for less than fair market value (gifts, below-market sales, adding names to deeds) triggers a penalty period during which you are ineligible for Medicaid.
The penalty is calculated by dividing the transfer amount by the penalty divisor ($10,645/month for 2026):
For a detailed guide, see our page on the Florida Medicaid look-back period and planning strategies.
How to Qualify If You Are Over the Limits
Being over the income or asset limits does not mean you cannot qualify. A Medicaid planning attorney can help you use legally permissible strategies to meet eligibility requirements:
| If You Are Over On… | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Income (over $2,982/mo) | Establish a Qualified Income Trust (QIT / Miller Trust) |
| Assets (over $2,000) | Strategic spend-down: pay off debts, home improvements, prepaid funeral, vehicle purchase |
| Home equity (over $752,000) | Pay down mortgage to reduce equity below the cap |
| Spouse’s assets | CSRA protections — spouse keeps up to $162,660 automatically |
| Made gifts in last 5 years | Crisis planning strategies: half-a-loaf, promissory notes, caretaker child exception |
Not Sure If You Qualify? We Can Help.
Florida’s Medicaid rules are complex, and the limits change every year. Our attorneys have helped hundreds of families navigate the eligibility process — even when they thought they made too much or had too many assets.
Call (813) 501-5071 for a free consultation, or schedule online.
