New Hampshire Medicaid
Eligibility Calculator
Check Medicaid eligibility in New Hampshire based on income, assets, and household size.
Estimate your New Hampshire Medicaid Eligibility
Check Medicaid eligibility in New Hampshire based on income, assets, and household size.
· Data sourced from New Hampshire statutes and court fee schedules.
Important: This tool provides educational estimates only — not legal advice. Made For Law is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any federal, state, county, or local government agency or court system. Calculator results are based on statutory formulas and publicly available fee schedules — not AI. Supporting content is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Results may not reflect recent legislative changes or your specific circumstances. Do not rely solely on these estimates — always verify with official sources and consult a licensed attorney before making legal or financial decisions. Full disclaimer
Medicaid eligibility in New Hampshire depends on income, assets, age, and disability status. For long-term care Medicaid, New Hampshire has specific income and asset limits that differ from standard Medicaid (RSA § 553:6). The community spouse resource allowance (CSRA) protects a portion of assets for the non-applicant spouse.
Key Takeaways
- New Hampshire is an ACA Medicaid expansion state — long-term care Medicaid has separate rules
- Individual income limit: $2,901/month (income cap state — Miller Trust may be needed)
- Individual asset limit: $2,500; Community Spouse can keep up to $148,620
- Home equity limit: $713,000 — home is exempt below this threshold
Key facts for New Hampshire medicaid eligibility
What drives medicaid eligibility in New Hampshire
Medicaid Eligibility Overview in New Hampshire
New Hampshire expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, extending coverage to adults with income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly $20,783/year for a single person in 2024). Long-term care Medicaid — the program that pays for nursing homes and home-based care for elderly and disabled individuals — operates under separate, stricter rules regardless of expansion status.
There are two primary Medicaid programs in New Hampshire that most families encounter: (1) standard Medicaid for low-income individuals and families, and (2) long-term care Medicaid (also called institutional Medicaid or nursing home Medicaid) for seniors needing sustained care. The eligibility rules, income limits, and asset tests differ dramatically between these two programs.
This page focuses on long-term care Medicaid, which is the more complex and higher-stakes determination for most families.
New Hampshire Medicaid is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health and/or Human Services and is governed by federal Medicaid law as well as state-specific regulations. Key reference: RSA § 167:1 et seq..
New Hampshire Medicaid is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Family Assistance. New Hampshire uses managed care through Medicaid Managed Care program (AmeriHealth Caritas and NH Healthy Families) for standard Medicaid.
Long-term care Medicaid uses FFS delivery; the Choices for Independence waiver provides HCBS. Functional eligibility is assessed using New Hampshire's Level of Care screening tool.
New Hampshire's individual asset limit of $2,500 is slightly above the $2,000 standard. New Hampshire's personal needs allowance is $71.50/month.
New Hampshire's MERP has broad reach — the state pursues recovery from the full expanded estate of deceased Medicaid recipients.
Income Limits for New Hampshire Long-Term Care Medicaid
New Hampshire is an "income cap" state, meaning nursing home Medicaid recipients must have monthly income at or below $2,901/month — 300% of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Benefit Rate. In 2024, this cap is $2,829/month.
Individuals whose income exceeds this cap cannot qualify for long-term care Medicaid in New Hampshire without using a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also called a "Miller Trust." The Miller Trust funnels excess income into a trust account that is paid directly to the nursing home, effectively reducing countable income to below the cap.
All nursing home income in New Hampshire — Social Security, pension payments, required minimum distributions, annuity income — counts toward the income calculation. Certain deductions may apply, including a personal needs allowance (typically $30–$60/month retained by the nursing home resident), health insurance premiums, and if a community spouse is present, a monthly maintenance needs allowance.
The community spouse's own income does not count toward the nursing home spouse's eligibility.
For married couples where one spouse needs nursing home care (the "institutionalized spouse") and the other remains at home (the "community spouse"), New Hampshire applies spousal impoverishment protections. The community spouse is entitled to a Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) — a monthly income floor set at $3,853.50 (2024 federal standard).
If the community spouse's own income falls below this threshold, the institutionalized spouse's income can be diverted to make up the difference, reducing what goes to the nursing home.
Asset Limits and Countable Resources in New Hampshire
The individual countable asset limit for long-term care Medicaid in New Hampshire is $2,500. This means a nursing home applicant must have $2,500 or less in countable assets to qualify.
Not all assets count — exemptions are critical to understanding the real planning picture.
Exempt (non-countable) assets in New Hampshire include: the primary residence (subject to the home equity limit — see below), one automobile of any value, personal property and household furnishings, irrevocable prepaid burial plans and burial funds up to state limits, term life insurance (no cash value), and whole life insurance with face value under $1,500. Business property essential to self-support may also be exempt.
IRAs and retirement accounts in payout status may or may not be exempt depending on New Hampshire rules.
For married couples, the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is the portion of the couple's combined assets the community spouse is allowed to keep. In New Hampshire, the CSRA is between $29,724 and $148,620 — the federal floor and ceiling for 2024.
New Hampshire uses the federal minimum as its CSRA, setting the community spouse's protection at $29,724. Combined countable assets above the CSRA plus the institutionalized spouse's $2,500 limit must be spent down before Medicaid eligibility is established.
Home Equity and Real Property in New Hampshire
The primary residence is exempt from Medicaid's asset test as long as the applicant or the applicant's spouse, minor child, or disabled child lives in the home, or the applicant intends to return home. However, New Hampshire imposes a home equity limit of $713,000.
If the applicant's home equity — the home's fair market value minus any mortgage balance — exceeds this limit, the home loses its exempt status and must be counted as a resource.
New Hampshire uses the federal standard home equity limit of $713,000. Many families in high-cost areas must be aware of this cap when planning.
Even when the home is exempt during the Medicaid recipient's lifetime, it may be subject to Medicaid Estate Recovery after death. In New Hampshire, the estate recovery program has a broad scope.
New Hampshire pursues recovery from the full probate estate and may also reach assets transferred through certain non-probate mechanisms including jointly-held property, life estates, and living trust assets. Families should consult an elder law attorney about strategies to protect the family home.
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Long-Term Care Medicaid vs. Standard Medicaid in New Hampshire
Long-term care Medicaid in New Hampshire covers two main settings: (1) nursing facility care (institutional Medicaid), which is an entitlement — meaning anyone who meets the financial and functional eligibility criteria must be enrolled — and (2) home and community-based services (HCBS) through waiver programs, which typically have waiting lists.
New Hampshire's primary HCBS waiver for elderly individuals is the New Hampshire Choices for Independence Waiver. Waiver programs allow Medicaid to pay for services that help people remain in their homes and communities rather than moving to nursing facilities.
Services may include personal care, adult day programs, home-delivered meals, transportation, and caregiver supports. Demand often far exceeds available waiver slots, resulting in wait times ranging from months to several years in New Hampshire.
Functional eligibility for long-term care Medicaid requires a clinical determination that the individual needs a nursing-facility level of care — typically defined as needing substantial assistance with at least two or three Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility. The New Hampshire Medicaid agency conducts a Level of Care (LOC) evaluation, usually through a standardized assessment instrument, as part of the application process.
Medicaid Planning Strategies in New Hampshire
Medicaid planning — taking legal steps to restructure assets and income to qualify for Medicaid while preserving wealth for a spouse or heirs — is a specialized field of elder law. Common strategies used in New Hampshire include Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs), which are irrevocable trusts that remove assets from countable resources after the 60-month look-back period; promissory notes; annuities; and the "spend-down" of excess assets on home improvements, debt payoff, or pre-paying funeral expenses.
Because New Hampshire is an income cap state, a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) is often required for applicants whose monthly income exceeds $2,901/month. The Miller Trust is drafted by an attorney, funded with the applicant's excess income each month, and helps ensure that income is properly directed to the nursing home while maintaining Medicaid eligibility.
Timing matters enormously in Medicaid planning. The 60-month (5-year) look-back period means that asset transfers made within 60 months of a Medicaid application are scrutinized and can result in penalty periods of Medicaid ineligibility.
Early planning — ideally 5+ years before care is needed — provides the most flexibility. An elder law attorney in New Hampshire can help navigate the complex interplay between federal requirements and New Hampshire-specific rules.
Questions families ask about New Hampshire medicaid eligibility
Edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Answers are general information — not legal advice.
What is the income limit for Medicaid in New Hampshire?
For long-term care Medicaid, the income limit is $2,901/month. New Hampshire is an income cap state — applicants with income above this threshold need a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) to qualify.
What is the asset limit for nursing home Medicaid in New Hampshire?
An individual applicant must have $2,500 or less in countable assets. A married couple can protect the community spouse's share through the CSRA, which in New Hampshire is between $29,724 and $148,620.
Can I keep my house if I go on Medicaid in New Hampshire?
Yes — your primary home is generally exempt while you are alive, provided a spouse or dependent lives there or you intend to return. However, New Hampshire's estate recovery program has broad reach and may recover from the home after your death unless protective planning steps are taken.
Does New Hampshire have a Medicaid look-back period?
Yes. All states, including New Hampshire, have a 60-month (5-year) look-back period. Asset transfers made within this window can result in a penalty period of Medicaid ineligibility. See the Medicaid Look-Back Calculator for New Hampshire-specific penalty calculations. For a national overview of Medicaid income and eligibility rules, see Medicaid.gov eligibility overview.
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Medicaid Eligibility Calculator in states that border New Hampshire
Key statutes: RSA § 553:6
Sources
- New Hampshire Judicial Branch — administrative agency appeals for Medicaid determinations
- New Hampshire Revised Statutes — General Court — Medicaid eligibility statutes, asset limits, and income rules
- New Hampshire Bar Association — elder law attorney resources and directory
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Open the calculatorLegal information, not legal advice. The Medicaid Eligibility Calculator for New Hampshire produces estimates based on public fee schedules and state statutes. Actual costs vary by case. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed New Hampshire attorney.