Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide in Minnesota
Long-term care eligibility, benefits, and how to apply through the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Medical Assistance, Explained
Minnesota's name for Medicaid is Medical Assistance, shortened to MA. The funding is shared between the state and the federal government, and the state runs the program inside federal parameters. For seniors, MA reaches well past the nursing home. It pays for assisted living services, adult foster care, and a long list of non-medical supports built around keeping frail seniors in their own homes for as long as that remains safe and workable.
Administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
How Medical Assistance Is Organized
Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid
Entitlement. Eligibility guarantees assistance. Benefits apply only inside Medicaid-certified nursing home facilities.
Level of care: Nursing Home
Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
Limited slots. Participation is capped and a waiting list may exist. Waiver services exist to push back the day a nursing home becomes necessary, and they can be delivered at home, in adult foster care, at adult day care, or in assisted living.
Level of care: Nursing Home
Regular Medicaid / Elderly, Blind, Disabled
Entitlement. Meeting the requirements guarantees benefits. This is not long-term care Medical Assistance, though certain long-term care services including personal care assistance and adult day care may be available under it.
Level of care: Help with ADLs
2026 Minnesota Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility for Seniors
Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid*
Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services†
Regular Medicaid / Elderly, Blind, Disabled
*With the exception of a Personal Needs Allowance of $132 / month, Medicare premiums, and potentially a Needs Allowance for a non-applicant spouse, all of a beneficiary's monthly income must go towards nursing home costs as a Patient Liability.
†Based on one's living setting, a program beneficiary may not be able to keep monthly income up to this level.
Why the Minnesota Income Numbers Look Low
Families comparing Minnesota against other states are often confused by the $1,330 figure for nursing home Medical Assistance. In several states, an applicant can have income well over $2,982 per month and still qualify for institutional coverage. Minnesota's institutional standard sits far below that, while its waiver programs allow up to $2,982.
Two things are worth understanding before you assume you do not qualify. First, Minnesota's asset limits are more generous than most, $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple. Second, income above the standard does not always end the conversation, and the path forward depends on your specific situation. Talk to the Minnesota Department of Human Services or a qualified elder law attorney before you write off eligibility based on the number alone.
Explore Minnesota Medicaid Programs
Compare programs, see caregiver pay rates, get step-by-step application guidance, and check your eligibility — all specific to Minnesota.
Long-term care Medicaid guide
Eligibility · Caregiver pay · How to apply · 2026 data
Compare Medicaid Programs — Minnesota
How the main LTC programs available in Minnesota compare side by side.
| Program | Pay | Pay type | Tax-free? | Spouse OK? | Waitlist? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer-directed HCBS | $17–20/hr | Hourly wage | No | Usually no | Often |
| Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) | Not in Minnesota | Daily stipend | Yes | Usually no | Often |
| Personal Care Agreement | Market rate (from assets) | Private pay | No | Yes | No |
| VA Aid & Attendance | Up to $2,874/mo | Monthly pension | Yes | Yes | No |
Minnesota Medicaid programs
HCBS Waiver
Elderly Waiver (EW)
Sources: KFF (Jan 2026), medicaidplanningassistance.org (Feb 2026). Programs and rates change — verify with your state Medicaid office.
How Family Caregivers Get Paid Through Medicaid in Minnesota
If you're a family member providing care, you may be able to get paid through Medicaid — often at rates comparable to a home care agency.
Consumer-directed care — hourly pay
Available in MinnesotaHow it works: The person receiving care becomes the "employer" — they hire you and a fiscal intermediary handles payroll, taxes, and paperwork on their behalf. You receive a paycheck just like a regular job.
How to apply: DHS · mn.gov/dhs
Personal Care Agreement — private pay from assets
Available to any familySources: KFF Medicaid Home Care Survey 2025 (Jan 2026), Careforth FAQ (Jan 2026), IRS Notice 2014-7.
How to Apply for Medicaid Long-Term Care in Minnesota
What to expect when applying for LTC Medicaid and getting family caregiver pay set up in Minnesota. The process typically takes 45–90 days from application to first paycheck.
Apply in Minnesota: DHS · mn.gov/dhs
Medicaid Eligibility Screener — Minnesota
Answer 7 quick questions — we'll check the financial and care requirements for Minnesota and explain what each one means.
What is the marital status of the person who needs care?
Medicaid looks at only the applicant's income and assets — but being married triggers special protections that let the healthy spouse keep significantly more money.
Choose one to continue — tap a button below.
Important: Rates vary — contact your state Medicaid office for current figures. This tool provides general guidance, not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- CMS Medicaid — eligibility, HCBS waivers, and long-term services medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility
- CMS Medicaid — Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services
- Social Security Administration — SSI Federal Benefit Rate (2026 figures) ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html
- CMS — Spousal Impoverishment standards (CSRA & MMMNA) medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/spousal-impoverishment
- CMS — Estate Recovery and the 5-year lookback period medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/estate-recovery
- IRS Notice 2014-7 — Tax treatment of Medicaid caregiver payments irs.gov/individuals/certain-medicaid-waiver-payments-may-be-excludable-from-income
Educational guidance only — not legal or financial advice. Your state Medicaid office determines actual eligibility.
See how Medicaid fits into your long-term care plan
Our free Affordability Calculator shows how Medicaid works alongside your savings, income, and care costs.
Key Rules at a Glance
- Nearly all income from any source is counted, including employment wages, alimony, pension payments, SSDI, SSI, IRA withdrawals, and stock dividends.
- Nationally, Holocaust restitution payments are not counted as income.
- Unlike many states, Minnesota does NOT exclude VA Aid & Attendance benefits — they are counted as income.
- When only one spouse applies for Nursing Home Medicaid or a Waiver, only the applicant's income is counted.
- The MMMNA is $2,705 (eff. 7/1/26 – 6/30/27). If a non-applicant's income falls under this amount, income can be transferred from the applicant spouse.
- A non-applicant spouse can increase their Spousal Income Allowance if housing/utility costs exceed a shelter standard of $811.50 / month (eff. 7/1/26 – 6/30/27), up to a Maximum MMMNA of $4,066.50 / month.
- For Regular Medicaid, both spouses' income is counted. There is no MMMNA for a non-applicant spouse.
- Countable assets include cash, stocks, bonds, investments, cryptocurrency, bank accounts (money market, savings, checking), and real estate in which one does not reside.
- In Minnesota, IRAs / 401Ks are counted as assets.
- Non-countable (exempt) assets include personal belongings, household furnishings, an automobile, and generally one's primary home.
- Minnesota's asset limit is $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple.
- All assets of a married couple are considered jointly owned regardless of the Medicaid program.
- The CSRA allows the non-applicant spouse to retain up to $162,660 of the couple's assets (2026). Minnesota uses the full CSRA amount rather than a 50% calculation with a minimum.
- There is no CSRA for Regular Medicaid.
- The home is automatically exempt if the applicant's spouse, child under 21, or permanently blind or disabled child (of any age) lives in it.
- If this is not the case, there is a home equity interest limit of $752,000 (in 2026).
- Home equity is the value of the home minus any outstanding debt. Equity interest is the amount of equity owned by the applicant.
- If neither the applicant nor qualifying family live in the home, the applicant must have Intent to Return.
- There is no home equity interest limit for Regular Medicaid.
- The home is NOT exempt from Medicaid's Estate Recovery Program. After a beneficiary's death, Minnesota's Medicaid agency attempts reimbursement of care costs through the deceased's estate.
- Minnesota has a 60-month (5-year) Look-Back Period for Nursing Home Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver applications.
- During the look-back, Medicaid checks to ensure no assets were gifted or sold for under fair market value.
- Violations result in a Penalty Period of Medicaid ineligibility.
- The Look-Back Period is not relevant for Regular Medicaid.
- The U.S. Federal Gift Tax Rule ($19,000 per recipient in 2026) does not extend to Medicaid eligibility — gifting under this rule still violates the Look-Back Period.
- MMMNA: $2,705 · CSRA: $162,660 · CSRA Min: $32,532
- When only one spouse applies for Nursing Home Medicaid or a Waiver, only the applicant's income is counted.
- The MMMNA is $2,705 (eff. 7/1/26 – 6/30/27). Income can be transferred from the applicant spouse if the non-applicant's income is below this level.
- A non-applicant can increase their Spousal Income Allowance if housing/utility costs exceed the shelter standard of $811.50 / month, up to a maximum of $4,066.50 / month.
- The CSRA allows the non-applicant spouse to retain up to $162,660 of the couple's assets (2026).
- For Regular Medicaid, both spouses' income is counted and there is no MMMNA or CSRA.
- Medically Needy Pathway — Minnesota has a Spenddown program for seniors over the income limit. The MNIL is $1,330 / month (individual, eff. 7/1/26 – 6/30/27) and $1,803 / month (couple). The spend-down is calculated for a 6-month period. The medically needy asset limit is $3,000 (individual) and $6,000 (couple).
- Asset Spend-Down — Spend excess assets on non-countable items such as home modifications (wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, pedestal sinks, roll-in showers, widening doorways, replacing carpet with vinyl/laminate flooring), prepaying funeral/burial expenses, and paying off debt. Keep documentation as proof the Look-Back Rule was not violated.
- Medicaid Planning — Work with a Medicaid Planning Professional to employ strategies to become eligible and protect your home from Medicaid's Estate Recovery Program.
Minnesota does not use Qualified Income Trusts (Miller Trusts). The Medically Needy / Spenddown program is available for persons over the income limit.
Minnesota Medicaid Programs
Elderly Waiver (EW)
Allows MN seniors to receive long-term care services in their own home, adult foster care, or assisted living. Participants can self-direct care via Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) or go through a provider agency. Via CDCS, one can hire their own caregiver, including adult children or spouses.
Personal Care Assistance (PCA) / Community First Services and Supports (CFSS)
PCA began transitioning into CFSS on 10/01/24, with approximately a year-long transition period. Both programs provide assistance with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, mobility, cooking, shopping). Participants can hire and manage their own personal care assistants, including family members.
Managed Care: MSC+ & MSHO
Managed care programs for seniors providing Regular Medicaid services (doctor visits, acute care) and long-term care services (in-home personal care assistance). MSHO enrollees can receive both Medicaid and Medicare services through one plan.
Money Follows the Person (Moving Home Minnesota)
A federal program that helps institutionalized Medicaid-eligible persons transition back home or into the community. Known in Minnesota as Moving Home Minnesota.
How to Apply
- Download an application from the Minnesota Department of Human Services website
- Apply in person at a local county or tribal human services office
- Apply online at MNsure (if not on Medicare)
- Call the Minnesota Health Care Programs Member Help Desk at 1-800-657-3739 or 1-651-431-2670
- Contact the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 for application assistance
It is vital that senior applicants are certain they meet all eligibility requirements. Medicaid Planning is an option for those who are unsure or do not meet the criteria.
More Minnesota Long-Term Care Resources
Sources & references
Verified October 2026- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Long-Term Services & Supports
- Administration for Community Living: State Medicaid Agencies
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Medicaid Eligibility
- American Council on Aging: About Medicaid Planning Assistance
- Minnesota Department of Human Services: Minnesota Medicaid — Official site