The Three Tests for Florida Nursing-Home Medicaid
Florida’s Institutional Care Program (ICP) Medicaid pays for nursing-home care if you meet three tests. The 2026 numbers:
- Income at or under $2,982/month (single applicant). Over the cap, a Qualified Income (Miller) Trust still lets you qualify, so being “over income” is rarely the real barrier.
- Countable assets of $2,000 or less (single applicant). A married community spouse keeps up to $162,660 (the CSRA).
- Level of care — a medical need for nursing-facility services (assessed separately).
What’s Exempt (and What Counts)
Exempt (doesn’t count): your Florida homestead up to $752,000 equity (no cap if a spouse or a minor/disabled child lives there), one car, personal belongings, prepaid burial, and certain life insurance. Countable: bank accounts, CDs, stocks, a second property, cash-value life insurance over the limit.
The biggest mistake families make is giving assets away to “get under” the limit. That triggers Florida’s five-year look-back and a penalty period. There are legitimate ways to protect assets, but a naked gift isn’t one. See how the home is protected from Medicaid estate recovery →
Crisis or planning ahead, there’s usually a path.
A free 30-minute consult tells you which strategy fits, before you spend down or give anything away.
Book your free consultFrequently Asked Questions
What Are the Florida Medicaid Income and Asset Limits in 2026?
For nursing-home (ICP) Medicaid in 2026, a single applicant must have countable assets of $2,000 or less and income at or under $2,982/month. If income is over the cap, a Qualified Income (Miller) Trust still lets you qualify. For a married couple with one spouse applying, the community spouse can keep up to $162,660 in assets (the CSRA).
Is My House Counted for Florida Medicaid?
Generally no. Your Florida homestead is an exempt resource while you live there or intend to return, up to a 2026 home-equity limit of $752,000 for a single applicant (no cap if a spouse or a child under 21 / blind / disabled lives there). The home’s real risk is estate recovery after death, which a lady bird deed can avoid.
What Assets Don’t Count?
Exempt resources generally include your homestead (within the equity limit), one car, personal belongings, prepaid burial/funeral arrangements, and certain life insurance. Countable assets are things like bank accounts, CDs, stocks, second properties, and cash-value life insurance over the limit.
I’m Over the Income Limit — Can I Still Qualify?
Yes. Florida is an income-cap state, so income over $2,982/month doesn’t disqualify you outright. A Qualified Income (Miller) Trust redirects the excess so you still meet the cap. We set these up routinely.
I’m Over the Asset Limit — What Now?
Being over the $2,000 asset limit doesn’t mean you can’t qualify; it means you need planning. Depending on timing there are legitimate strategies (spend-down on exempt items, a personal-services contract, a spousal transfer, annuities, or a 5-year asset-protection plan). Avoid simply giving assets away — that triggers the five-year look-back penalty.
Does This Calculator Decide if I Qualify?
No. It’s an estimate based on 2026 figures to show where you stand on the three basic tests. Real eligibility depends on the exact nature of your assets and income, your marital situation, and timing. We confirm it at a free consult.
Sources
- 2026 Florida ICP Medicaid figures: income cap $2,982/mo, asset limit $2,000 (single), CSRA $162,660, home-equity limit $752,000 (42 U.S.C. §1396p(f)). Figures updated each January by Florida DCF / AHCA.
- Qualified Income (Miller) Trust — required in Florida (an income-cap state) when income exceeds the cap. Estate recovery: Fla. Stat. §409.9101. (retrieved 2026-06-06)
Updated June 6, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. General information about Florida law, not legal advice, and not an eligibility determination. Medicaid figures change annually and eligibility turns on your specific facts.