Paying for care

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is the joint federal and state programme that pays for long-term care for people with low income and few assets, and it is the largest payer of long-term care in the United States.

Eligibility has both a financial test and a functional one, and both vary by state. Standard Medicaid covers nursing home care; home and community-based waivers can pay for care at home instead.

Rules on income, assets, the home and a spouse's resources are complicated and state-specific.

Why it matters

For most families it is the only realistic long-term funder, and the rules are worth understanding years before they are needed.

Sources

Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.

Medicaid where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

All 92 terms, A to Z