Medicaid asset limits for long-term care, state by state (2026)
By Bennett Dixon, founder of MedicaidChecklist · Every figure cited to an official source · Last verified
Asset limits are where states genuinely diverge — from $2,000 in some states to $130,000 in others, after several states raised or restructured their limits in the last few years. The limit applies to countable assets only: the home (below a published equity cap), one vehicle, and household goods are typically exempt, and married couples have a separately protected spousal share.
Published asset limits, side by side
| State | Asset limit (single applicant) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| California | $130,000 | 2026 |
| Michigan | $9,950 | 2026 |
| New York | $33,038 | 2026 |
| Ohio | $2,000 | 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $8,000 | 2026 |
| Texas | $2,000 | 2026 |
This table covers the 6 states we currently research in depth — California, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Every figure is hand-verified against the official state source (linked on each state's page) rather than syndicated, which is why we publish fewer states than aggregator sites do. Rules in other states follow the same federal framework but with different published figures.
Reading the table
A single figure hides real structure: some states index their limit annually, some run two-tier limits by program, and recent legislation has moved these numbers in both directions. The state pages carry the published notes behind each figure: California ($130,000), Michigan ($9,950), New York ($33,038), Ohio ($2,000), Pennsylvania ($8,000), Texas ($2,000).
A note on limits of this page: whether and how any rule applies to a specific family is a question only the state agency — or an elder-law attorney — can answer. MedicaidChecklist publishes the rules and helps you prepare and organize the application; it does not give legal advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to move, transfer, or restructure money or property.