Texas Medicaid asset and income limits for 2026
Updated June 4, 2026. For nursing home, assisted living waiver, and home-and-community-based Medicaid in Texas.
The 30-second summary
In 2026, Texas sets the countable-asset limit for a single Medicaid applicant at $2,000 and the gross monthly income cap at $2,901. When a spouse remains at home, that spouse can generally hold up to $157,920 in joint countable assets separately. The home (up to $730,000 equity), one car, and personal belongings are generally not counted. Income above the cap commonly involves Texas's Qualified Income Trust rules.
Where are you in this right now?
Pick the one that sounds most like you. The next steps change depending on the moment.
If mom is in the hospital and they are talking about a nursing home
In the days before discharge, families commonly focus on these areas. None of this is advice about your specific situation – it is what often comes up:
- Medicare-covered rehab is a separate program from Medicaid. Families often ask the hospital social worker whether a Medicare-covered skilled rehab stay is available, since Medicare can cover up to 100 days when admission and prior-hospitalization rules are met. That can come before long-term Medicaid is relevant.
- Admission agreements can include financial-responsibility language. Families often review the agreement carefully, and many ask an elder law attorney about how signing as a "responsible party" differs from signing as an agent under a power of attorney before they sign anything.
- Medicaid applications are document-heavy. Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) commonly requests financial, income, and property records – such as bank statements, benefit award letters, and deeds. Gathering them early helps the process.
- Texas generally uses Qualified Income Trusts when income exceeds the cap. If gross monthly income is above $2,901, QIT timing rules can affect the month coverage begins. Families often confirm timing with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or a Texas elder law attorney before filing.
A Texas elder law attorney can review the specifics of your family's situation. The first conversation is usually free.
Texas Medicaid long-term-care limits – 2026
Verified from Texas Health and Human Services Commission – Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities. Reviewed June 4, 2026.
| Rule | 2026 number | What it actually means at your kitchen table |
|---|---|---|
| Asset limit – single applicant | $2,000 | Countable assets the applicant can own on the first of the month. The home, one car, the wedding ring, and household belongings do not count toward this. |
| Asset limit – community spouse (at home) | $31,584 – $157,920 | The Community Spouse Resource Allowance. If one spouse is staying home, they keep this much in joint assets – not $2,000. The most-missed protection in Medicaid planning. |
| Monthly income cap | $2,901 | Texas is an income-cap state. When gross monthly income exceeds this number, applicants commonly use a Qualified Income Trust under the state's rules, with timing that can affect the month coverage begins. |
| Spousal income protection (MMMNA) | $2,555 – $3,948 | The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance. The at-home spouse can keep at least this much monthly income, and Medicaid lets the applicant divert income to reach it. |
| Home equity cap | $730,000 | The home stays exempt up to this much equity (federal indexed amount). A spouse, minor child, or disabled child living in the home removes the cap entirely. |
| Look-back period | 60 months | Financial transfers in this window are commonly reviewed during the application. Gifts and below-market transfers can trigger a penalty period under the state's rules. |
What Texas does not count as an asset
Texas generally treats the home (up to the equity cap), one vehicle, personal belongings, an irrevocable burial plan within published limits, and term life insurance as exempt for Medicaid long-term-care eligibility. The home is generally exempt while the applicant – or a spouse, minor child, or disabled child – lives there.
What nobody tells you
The five things Texas families wish someone had said out loud before they sat down with the hospital social worker.
Texas is an income-cap state, with a Qualified Income Trust framework
When gross monthly income exceeds the cap ($2,901 in 2026, indexed to 300% of SSI), Texas generally uses a Qualified Income Trust (also called a Miller Trust). How and when a QIT is established follows state-specific rules an attorney or HHSC can describe.
The Community Spouse Resource Allowance is separate from the applicant's $2,000 limit
When one spouse stays at home, that spouse can generally hold up to $157,920 in joint countable assets under the CSRA. The protection is part of the program but its application depends on each couple's situation.
The Texas Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) reaches the probate estate
Texas can pursue claims against the probate estate of a deceased Medicaid recipient under MERP, with hardship waivers in certain circumstances. Property that passes outside probate is treated differently.
STAR+PLUS HCBS is the home-and-community-based option
Texas's STAR+PLUS waiver funds long-term services in the home and community for some applicants who would otherwise need nursing-facility care. Eligibility rules can differ from institutional Medicaid.
Veterans benefits interact with Medicaid
Veterans Aid and Attendance and Medicaid have separate eligibility tests. Texas families with VA-eligible parents often review both programs with an elder law attorney.
The most expensive mistakes families make
Each of these is fixable if you catch it early. Each gets significantly more expensive after a Medicaid denial.
Assuming the QIT can be set up after applying
Texas's QIT framework involves specific timing, and families often confirm setup and funding requirements with HHSC or counsel before filing.
Transferring property to a child within the look-back
Transfers for less than fair market value in the 60-month look-back can trigger a penalty period. Complete information about prior transfers helps a Texas elder law attorney evaluate exposure.
Long stretches of private-pay before exploring Medicaid
Funds spent on private-pay care are no longer available to qualify for Medicaid later. Some Texas families discuss application timing early in a placement.
Treating MERP as inevitable without exploring waivers
MERP has hardship waivers in certain circumstances (such as a surviving child caretaker). Whether one applies is fact-specific and is commonly reviewed with counsel.
Re-titling the homestead without legal review
Texas homestead and deed law has unique features. Re-titling has consequences for both Medicaid and federal tax treatment, so deed planning is generally reviewed by a Texas attorney.
How Texas compares to nearby states
If a parent could move – or already lives in a different state from the adult child managing this – the numbers shift more than people realize.
| State | Single asset limit | Income cap (mo.) | Community spouse max | QIT required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (this page) | $2,000 | $2,901 | $157,920 | Yes |
| California | — | — | — | No |
| Florida | $2,000 | $2,901 | $157,920 | Yes |
| Georgia | $2,000 | $2,901 | $157,920 | Yes |
| Michigan | $2,000 | — | $157,920 | No |
Numbers reflect each state's published 2026 long-term-care Medicaid limits.
What families ask
The questions that come up most often after a Texas Medicaid denial letter or a hospital discharge meeting.
What is Texas's Medicaid asset limit for nursing home care in 2026?
For a single applicant, the countable asset limit is generally $2,000 in 2026. For a married couple where one spouse is applying, the at-home spouse can generally hold between $31,584 and $157,920 in joint countable assets under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance.
What is the Texas Medicaid income cap in 2026?
$2,901 per month gross income for institutional Medicaid and STAR+PLUS HCBS in 2026 (300% of SSI). Texas is an income-cap state, and a Qualified Income Trust is generally used when income exceeds the cap.
What is a Miller Trust / QIT in Texas?
A Qualified Income Trust is a legal arrangement Texas uses for applicants whose gross monthly income exceeds the cap. Setup, funding, and timing follow state-specific rules and are commonly reviewed by an elder law attorney.
Will Texas take my parent's home?
The home is generally exempt for eligibility while a parent or qualifying family member lives there. After death, the Texas Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) can pursue claims against the probate estate, with hardship waivers in certain situations.
What is STAR+PLUS in Texas?
STAR+PLUS is the Texas managed-care program that includes a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver for some applicants who meet a nursing-facility level of care but receive services at home or in the community.
Does Texas have a 5-year look-back?
Yes. Texas generally reviews financial transfers in the 60 months before the application date. Gifts and below-market transfers can trigger a penalty period under the program's rules.
Getting organized
Families who are starting to look into Medicaid often find it easier to begin with the same three steps. None of this is a recommendation about your specific situation – it is a common starting point.
- Write down the current numbers. Total countable assets, gross monthly income, and the address and approximate equity of the home. These are commonly the first questions in an attorney consultation.
- Locate the paperwork that Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) typically asks for. Power of attorney, will, deed, Social Security award letter, pension statements, and recent bank statements often appear on the application checklist.
- Speak with a licensed Texas elder law attorney about your family's specific situation. Many offer a free initial consultation.
Timing can matter more when a parent has already been admitted to a hospital or a nursing facility. In those cases, families often gather documents and speak with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or an elder law attorney early in the process.
Sources and methodology
- Primary source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission – Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities
- Federal SSI / CSRA / MMMNA figures cross-referenced against CMS-published annual indexing thresholds.
- Reviewed: June 4, 2026 by ElderLawLocator Editorial Review.
- Next scheduled review: January 15, 2027.
Medicaid rules change. If this page is more than 6 months old and your application is pending, verify each number with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) directly.