New York Medicaid Long-Term Care — Nursing Home Entry
Medicaid pays for nursing-home care in New York when the resident meets the state's income and asset rules. Long-term care here runs through New York Medicaid, decided by New York State Department of Health. The official first step is the agency's long-term care intake — the link and phone number below.
The official entry point
- State program
- New York Medicaid
- Agency
- New York State Department of Health · 1-855-355-5777
- Apply / long-term care intake
- Apply online
Income and spousal rules — 2026 federal standards
- Institutional income-cap reference: $2,982.00/month (300% of the 2026 SSI federal benefit rate of $994.00). New York sets its own institutional income rules within the federal framework.
- Married applicant: the community spouse keeps at least $2,705.00/month of the couple’s income, up to the $4,066.50 maximum, plus a monthly housing allowance of $811.50 (2026 federal standards).
These are the federal standards in the CMS Informational Bulletin of 2026-04-27(updated 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards). New York applies them within state rules — confirm with the agency. This page does not determine eligibility.
The regular income limits elsewhere on this site are not the nursing-home income rules: institutional long-term care uses separate standards. See New York income limits for the community coverage lines, and the agency for the institutional ones.
What to do this week
- Call New York State Department of Health (1-855-355-5777) and ask for the long-term care / nursing-home intake.
- If your parent is married, ask about spousal income and asset protections before moving any money or property.
- Review the 60-month look-back before any gift or transfer — a transfer penalty can delay Medicaid by one month for each multiple of the state's average private pay rate. Use the look-back calculator.
Common questions
Does Medicaid pay for nursing home care in New York?＋
Yes — for residents who meet New York's income and asset rules. Long-term care runs through New York Medicaid, decided by New York State Department of Health. The official first step is the agency's long-term care intake, linked on this page.
What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in New York?＋
New York sets its own institutional income rules within the federal framework. The federal reference for 2026 is the 300% SSI income cap of $2,982.00/month, and a married applicant's community spouse keeps at least $2,705.00/month (up to $4,066.50). The agency confirms the exact numbers for New York.
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Reviewed by Gavin YE, Technical Director, ClearRules Labs.
Page last reviewed 2026-09-28
Long-term care entry last reviewed 2026-09-28.