Quick Answer
California has no hard income cap for nursing-home Medicaid — most of the resident's income goes toward care and they keep a small personal-needs allowance — and a single applicant may keep up to $130,000 in countable assets (Effective January 1, 2026). A spouse who stays at home is protected separately. Every figure below is sourced; rules change, so verify with the state before you act.
California Medicaid Nursing-Home Limits at a Glance (2026)
These are the headline numbers for a single applicant seeking long-term nursing-home coverage. Each card cites its source and the date it applies.
California is a medically-needy state, so there is no hard income limit to qualify for nursing-home Medi-Cal. Instead the resident pays almost all monthly income to the facility as a "share of cost," keeping only a small personal-needs allowance.
2026. Source: California DHCS — Medi-Cal Questions and Answers (Long-Term Care) (accessed 2026-07-05).
California's Medi-Cal asset test, which was fully eliminated during 2024–2025, was reinstated at $130,000 for one person (plus $65,000 for each additional household member) effective January 1, 2026 under AB 116.
Effective January 1, 2026. Source: California DHCS — Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-07-05).
Federal maximum community spouse resource allowance for 2026.
2026. Source: CMS/CMCS Informational Bulletin — Updated 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards (April 27, 2026) (accessed 2026-07-05).
California uses a 30-month look-back (shorter than the federal 60-month standard). Transfer penalties resumed for transfers made on or after January 1, 2026; gifts made in 2024 and 2025 are not counted because assets were not counted in those years.
2026. Source: California DHCS — Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-07-05).
Raised to $62/month for residents on SSI and $125/month for residents receiving VA Aid & Attendance.
2026. Source: California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) — Overview of Medi-Cal for Long-Term Care (accessed 2026-07-05).
How eligibility works in California
California is a “medically needy” state, which works differently from the income-cap states. There is no fixed income limit that turns you away from nursing-home Medicaid. Instead, once you qualify, nearly all of your monthly income is paid to the nursing home toward the cost of your care, and you keep only a small personal-needs allowance of $35/month for things like clothing and haircuts.
If your income is above the state's medically-needy threshold, the excess is “spent down” on your medical and care costs before Medicaid pays the rest. In practice this means income rarely blocks nursing-home coverage in California — the assets test and the look-back matter far more.
On the asset side, a single applicant may keep up to $130,000 in countable assets. Certain assets are exempt and do not count — most importantly the primary home (within an equity limit, and generally only while you, a spouse, or a dependent live there or you intend to return), one vehicle, personal belongings, and a modest burial fund. Money and investments above the limit generally must be “spent down” on care or other allowed purchases before Medicaid begins.
Protecting the spouse who stays home
A common fear is that one spouse entering a nursing home will leave the other with nothing. Federal “spousal impoverishment” rules exist specifically to prevent that, and California applies them.
- Protected assets (the CSRA). The at-home spouse — called the “community spouse” — may keep the couple's countable assets up to Up to $162,660. This is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance.
2026. Source: CMS/CMCS Informational Bulletin — Updated 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards (April 27, 2026) (accessed 2026-07-05).
- Protected income (the MMMNA). The community spouse is guaranteed enough monthly income to reach up to $2,705.00–$4,066.50/month, drawn if necessary from the institutionalized spouse's income before any patient contribution is calculated. This is the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance.
2026 (minimum effective 7/1/2026). Source: CMS/CMCS Informational Bulletin — Updated 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards (April 27, 2026) (accessed 2026-07-05).
- The home. The family home is generally an exempt asset while the community spouse lives there, and selling it can turn an exempt asset into countable cash at the worst possible moment — talk to an elder-law attorney first.
These protections apply only to married couples where one spouse needs care and the other remains in the community. The exact amount a community spouse keeps depends on the couple's finances and is calculated by the state at application.
The look-back period
When you apply for nursing-home Medicaid, California reviews your finances over a 30 months “look-back” window. Gifts or transfers made for less than fair market value during that period — for example, giving money to family or selling a house to a relative cheaply — can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for your care.
California uses a 30-month look-back (shorter than the federal 60-month standard). Transfer penalties resumed for transfers made on or after January 1, 2026; gifts made in 2024 and 2025 are not counted because assets were not counted in those years.
Why this matters: well-meaning transfers made to “protect” assets can backfire and delay coverage. Legitimate planning strategies exist, but they are time-sensitive and state-specific. If you are within five years of possibly needing nursing-home care, review any large gifts or asset transfers with a certified elder-law attorney before you make them.
2026. Source: California DHCS — Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-07-05).
California's long-term care program
Once someone qualifies financially and is confirmed to need a nursing-home level of care, California delivers long-term care through Medi-Cal Managed Care under CalAIM (Skilled Nursing Facility Long-Term Care Carve-In).
Under CalAIM, nursing-facility long-term care is delivered and coordinated through Medi-Cal managed-care health plans statewide (the SNF carve-in). Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) and PACE remain as home- and community-based alternatives.
Statewide since January 1, 2023; in effect for 2026. Source: California DHCS — CalAIM Skilled Nursing Facility Long-Term Care Carve-In (accessed 2026-07-05).
Many families also want to know whether the same Medicaid funding can pay for care at home instead of in a facility. It often can, through home- and community-based services, though those programs can have waiting lists where nursing-home coverage does not. California also has the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for adults 55+ who qualify for nursing-home care but want to stay in the community.
How to apply for nursing-home Medicaid in California
Applications go through California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through county social services offices. Apply online at BenefitsCal.com or Covered California, by phone or mail, or in person at your county Medi-Cal office.
You can apply online here: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/apply/ (online benefits portal: https://benefitscal.com/).
2026. Source: California DHCS — Apply for Medi-Cal (accessed 2026-07-05).
What you'll typically need
- • Proof of identity, U.S. citizenship or qualified immigration status, and residency
- • Social Security number and Medicare card (if enrolled)
- • Recent income records (Social Security, pension, and other income)
- • Bank statements and records of assets — often for the full look-back period
- • Records of any property transfers or gifts in the look-back window
- • A physician's statement or level-of-care assessment showing nursing-home-level need
Financial eligibility and the medical level-of-care review are usually handled by different offices, so expect two parallel determinations. Apply early — before savings run out — because processing can take several weeks.
A note on estate recovery
Federal law requires every state to run a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. California's Medi-Cal Estate Recovery Program, administered by DHCS, may seek repayment after death from the probate estate of a beneficiary who was 55 or older and received nursing-facility or home- and community-based services; since 2017 reforms (SB 833), recovery is limited to assets subject to probate and cannot occur while a surviving spouse is living.
Source: California DHCS — Estate Recovery Program (accessed 2026-07-05).
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Start Free Facility Search →Important: this is educational, not advice
This guide is general educational information, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid rules change frequently and are applied case by case. Do not make gifts, transfer property, or spend down assets based on this page alone.
- • Verify current rules with the state. Confirm the figures above with Medi-Cal before you act.
- • Consider a certified elder-law attorney. For spend-down strategies, trusts, and spousal planning, find one through the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).
- • Free help exists. Your local Area Agency on Aging and State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can walk you through options at no cost.
Keep reading
Medicaid nursing-home guides for other states
Rules differ by state. Compare all of our state guides on the Medicaid & nursing homes hub.