Albany Senior AdvisorWhat long-term care does New York Medicaid pay for?
New York Medicaid pays for nursing home care, home care and personal care through Managed Long Term Care plans, consumer-directed care, adult day health care, PACE, and services in Assisted Living Program beds, but it does not pay room and board in ordinary assisted living.
That gap is the single most important fact in Capital Region elder care planning. A parent can qualify for Medicaid and still have to leave a private-pay residence that has no ALP bed or does not accept SSI. Plan the route before the savings are gone.
What are New York's 2026 Medicaid income and resource limits?
For people 65 or older, blind or disabled, New York's 2026 limits are $1,836 a month in income and $33,038 in resources for a single person, and $2,489 and $44,796 for a couple.
| New York Medicaid, 2026 (age 65+, blind or disabled) | One person | Married couple |
|---|---|---|
| Income level per month | $1,836 | $2,489 |
| Resource limit | $33,038 | $44,796 |
Source: NYSDOH GIS 26 MA/05, Income and Resource Standards for Non-MAGI Population, effective January 1, 2026 (rev. 2/5/2026).
Income above the limit does not end the conversation for home care: a pooled supplemental needs trust can let someone keep eligibility by redirecting excess income. An elder law attorney or the county Department of Social Services can explain it.
How do Albany-area seniors apply for Medicaid long-term care?
Applications for nursing home Medicaid go to the Department of Social Services in the county where the person lives, and people seeking community-based long-term care also need an assessment through the New York Independent Assessor at 855-222-8350 before enrolling in a plan.
Most adults with both Medicare and Medicaid who need more than 120 days of community-based care must join a Managed Long Term Care plan; PACE is one MLTC option, and in parts of Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties that means Eddy SeniorCare.
What is the Medicaid look-back in New York?
Nursing home Medicaid reviews 60 months of financial records for gifts and transfers below fair value, and each transfer is divided by the regional rate, $14,783 a month in the Northeastern region in 2026, to set a penalty period without coverage.
A 30-month look-back for community-based care was written into the 2020 state budget but had not been put into effect as of our last check; confirm the current rule with the county Department of Social Services before relying on that.
Who can help Capital Region families with a Medicaid application?
The county Office for the Aging and NY Connects can explain the options for free, the county Department of Social Services processes applications, and an elder law attorney can plan around spousal protections and transfers.
In Albany County, start with the Department for Aging at (518) 447-7198; the statewide NY Connects line is 1-800-342-9871. Many nursing homes also have staff who help residents file.
Side by side
| New York Medicaid pays for | New York Medicaid does not pay for | |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing homes | Long-term care for eligible residents | A private room by preference |
| Home care | Aides through MLTC plans and CDPAP | Care without an assessment |
| Assisted living | Services in Assisted Living Program beds | Room and board in ordinary ALRs |
| PACE | Eddy SeniorCare in its service area | PACE in every county |
Where this page states a rule or a dollar figure, it relies on New York statute or regulation (Social Services Law, Public Health Law, 18 NYCRR and 10 NYCRR), Department of Health GIS messages and directories, CMS, the VA or CareScout, as named in the text. How we source facts: editorial standards.
