Who Qualifies and How to Get Approved
Florida Medicaid has specific rules for who can qualify for long-term care coverage, and understanding those rules is key before any benefits can begin. Eligibility depends on income, assets, and other factors that often confuse people. Some assume they won’t qualify because they earn too much or own too much, while others are told they have to spend everything before applying.
The truth? You may be eligible for Medicaid sooner than you think, especially with the help of legal planning. This article explains the key eligibility rules for Medicaid in Florida, based on the book How to Get Medicaid to Pay for Some or All of Your Long-Term Care Expenses by Florida elder law attorney Jason Neufeld.
What Does “Medicaid Eligibility” Mean in Florida?
To receive long-term care benefits from Medicaid—whether at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home—you must meet Florida’s three core eligibility tests:
- Residency & Citizenship
- Medical Need
- Financial Requirements (income and asset tests)
Let’s break those down.
1. Residency & Citizenship Requirements
As the book explains “Medicaid applicants must meet certain criteria in order to be approved. The first set of standards requires the applicant to be a US citizen (or legal permanent resident for at least five years), and to be a resident of the state in which the Medicaid application is being submitted.”
- You must live in Florida.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident for at least five years
2. Medical Need
This article focuses on financial eligibility, but it’s important to note: Medicaid applicants must need assistance with daily activities, like bathing, eating, or dressing. This is sometimes called needing help with “Activities of Daily Living” or ADLs.
If you meet the medical need, then your income and assets will determine whether you qualify.
3. Financial Eligibility for Florida Medicaid (2025)
To pass Florida’s financial eligibility rules, you must meet both the income and asset limits below.
Income Limit
As of 2025, the gross monthly income limit in Florida is $2,901. If someone earns more than this amount, they can still qualify by setting up a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) to hold the excess income.
“Each Medicaid applicant in Florida must gross less than $2,901.00… If the applicant’s total gross income exceeds this ‘income cap’ they are not Medicaid eligible, unless the excess income is transferred into a Qualified Income Trust.”
Even if your income is over the cap, there are legal ways to meet the requirement with the help of an elder law attorney.
Asset Limit
Florida Medicaid also limits how much you can own. A single applicant must have no more than $2,000 in countable assets. If both spouses are applying, the limit is $3,000 combined. If only one spouse is applying, different protections are available for the healthy spouse.
“In addition to meeting income-test criteria, a single Medicaid applicant must also have no more than $2,000.00 in total countable assets… Rest assured, most clients go to an elder law attorney with significantly more than $2,000.00 in assets, and we will present multiple ways to protect those assets.”
Some assets—like your home, one car, personal belongings, and prepaid funeral arrangements—may not count toward this limit.
Married Couples
Florida Medicaid includes protections for the spouse who is not applying, often called the “community spouse.” One of those protections is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA), which allows the non-applying spouse to keep up to $157,920 in countable assets (as of 2025), on top of the $2,000 the applicant can keep.
The book says “If the couple has, together, no more than $159,920.00, no additional planning would be needed because they would already satisfy the Medicaid Asset Test.”
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
If the community spouse’s income falls below a certain level, Medicaid allows a portion—or even all—of the applicant’s income to be shifted to the well spouse to help with living expenses. This helps prevent the healthy spouse from falling into poverty.
Neufeld stresses “The MMMNA rules allow the sick spouse, in a nursing home, to divert sufficient income so that the community spouse can keep his or her income and receive a portion (or all) of the Medicaid spouse’s income…”
Get Legal Help Before You Apply
Florida’s Medicaid eligibility rules can be tough to figure out on your own. Between income caps, asset limits, and spousal protections, there are many moving parts—and plenty of room for mistakes. Working with an elder law attorney can help you use legal tools like income trusts and asset protection strategies without putting your home or life savings at risk.
As the book notes, “Our clients are usually excited and relieved after we explain our Florida Medicaid-planning strategies.”
Getting Clear on Florida Medicaid Eligibility Is the First Step
Medicaid can help pay for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home costs—but only if you meet the financial and medical requirements. Don’t assume you’re ineligible just because you’ve saved for retirement or own property. With the right approach, many seniors in Florida are able to get the care they need without losing everything they’ve worked for.
To dive deeper into how Medicaid eligibility works—and how to protect your income and assets while qualifying—check out the book How to Get Medicaid to Pay for Some or All of Your Long-Term Care Expenses by Jason Neufeld, Esq. It’s written in plain language and packed with helpful examples, making it a valuable resource for families, caregivers, and professionals across Florida.
