Qualifying for Ohio Nursing Home Medicaid can feel overwhelming, especially with ever-changing rules. Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to an urgent need, understanding the 2025 financial requirements is essential. This guide simplifies the process to help you make informed decisions.
Income Requirements for 2025
Income Limits for Individuals For individuals applying for Nursing Home Medicaid in Ohio, the monthly income limit is $2,901. While this might seem low given today’s nursing home costs, there’s a solution: even if your income exceeds this limit, a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) can help you qualify.
Income Limits for Married Couples For married couples where both spouses need nursing home care, the combined monthly income limit is $5,802. When only one spouse needs care, the community spouse can retain up to $3,948 per month in 2025, ensuring they maintain a basic standard of living.
Asset Limits: What You Can Keep
Asset Limits for Individuals A single applicant can keep up to $2,000 in countable assets to qualify for Nursing Home Medicaid.
Asset Limits for Couples For married couples, the rules vary:
- If both spouses need care: $3,000 in combined assets.
- If only one spouse needs care: The community spouse can protect up to $157,920 in 2025, while the applicant must meet the $2,000 limit.
Exempt Assets Not all assets count toward these limits. Here’s what’s exempt in Ohio for 2025:
- Your home (with equity up to $730,000), if you or your spouse live there or have an “intent to return.”
- One vehicle.
- Personal belongings and household items.
- Burial arrangements, such as irrevocable burial trusts.
- Retirement accounts in payout status, like IRAs taking required minimum distributions.
Understanding the Spend-Down Process
If your assets exceed these limits, you’ll need to “spend down” to qualify. But this doesn’t mean spending recklessly. Instead, think of it as strategic financial planning. Here are three effective ways to spend down assets in 2025:
- Purchasing Medicaid-Exempt Assets: Using excess funds to buy exempt items—like a more reliable vehicle, home repairs, or necessary household goods—can reduce countable assets while improving your quality of life.
- Spousal Asset Transfers: If only one spouse needs care, transferring excess assets to the “community spouse” is allowed under Medicaid rules. This protects assets for the spouse at home while meeting eligibility requirements.
- Funeral Pre-Payment: Use irrevocable burial trusts to pre-pay funeral expenses while relieving your family of future costs.Keep in mind that improper spend-downs or large financial gifts can result in penalties due to Medicaid’s five-year look-back period. It’s vital to work with a qualified elder law attorney to create a compliant plan tailored to your situation.
Important Cautions for 2025
The Five-Year Look-Back Period Medicaid will review financial transactions made within five years of your application. For example, a $5,000 gift to a grandchild during this period could result in a penalty of ineligibility for Medicaid benefits. Careful planning is essential to avoid delays in receiving coverage.
Estate Recovery While your home may be exempt while you’re alive, Ohio’s Medicaid program can seek reimbursement from your estate after your death. To minimize the impact of estate recovery and protect your family’s future, consult an elder law attorney about strategies like irrevocable trusts.
Moving Forward
Navigating Medicaid rules can be complex, but you don’t have to face it alone. Working with an elder law attorney ensures you’re protecting assets while securing care for your loved ones. Contact us today to create a personalized plan that works for your unique needs.
Want to learn more about protecting your assets while qualifying for Nursing Home Medicaid? Reach out to schedule a consultation with our experienced elder law attorney who can help develop a plan tailored to your family’s circumstances.
