Medicaid Spend-Down Calculator
Calculate assets to spend down for Medicaid eligibility. See exempt asset categories.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: Medicaid.gov — Spousal Impoverishment
Spend-Down Needed
$48,000.00
Asset Limit
$2,000.00
Months to Eligible
29 mo
Asset Spend-Down
| Countable Assets | $50,000.00 |
| Asset Limit | $2,000.00 |
| Excess Assets (Spend-Down) | $48,000.00 |
Income Test
| Monthly Income | $2,500.00 |
| Monthly Medical Expenses | - $800.00 |
| Net Countable Income | $1,700.00 |
Spend-Down Strategies
| Pre-paid funeral/burial | Exempt asset |
| Home improvements (primary residence) | Exempt asset |
| Pay off debts | Reduces countable assets |
| Purchase exempt vehicle | One vehicle exempt |
| Irrevocable funeral trust | Removes from estate |
Use the Medicaid Spend-Down Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.
How It Works
Medicaid eligibility hinges on strict asset ceilings, and qualifying often means deliberately reducing what you own down to the allowed level, a process known as spend-down. The numbers here let you see how far your countable assets sit above the asset limit, which the calculator sets by default at $2,000 for a single applicant and $3,000 for a couple, the same as the SSI resource limits; your state's limit may differ, and you can enter it instead. When only one spouse needs long-term care, federal spousal impoverishment rules also let the other spouse keep up to $162,660 in 2026, which the calculator does not add in. Getting this figure right is the foundation of planning for long-term care coverage.
The math is a subtraction: Countable Assets − Asset Limit = Spend-Down Amount, the dollar total you would need to reduce before qualifying. Leave exempt assets such as your home and one car out of the figure you enter, because the calculator does not subtract them for you. It also sets your monthly income against your monthly medical expenses, which is the comparison that matters in states with a medically needy program, where people whose income is too high can qualify by incurring medical bills.
Exempt assets deserve attention first, since your primary residence (with home equity protected up to $752,000 in 2026, or up to $1,130,000 in states that choose the higher federal limit), one vehicle, and certain personal belongings generally do not count against you. Transferring assets on your own, without legal guidance, can backfire by triggering look-back periods and eligibility penalties. An elder law attorney can help you stay compliant and structure the spend-down sensibly for your situation.
Example: Single Applicant, 2026
- 1 Maria, a single applicant, has $28,000 in countable assets (cash, investments, a second property). Her home, worth $250,000, and her $15,000 car are exempt, so she leaves them out and enters $28,000.
- 2 She leaves the state asset limit blank, so the calculator uses its $2,000 default for a single applicant. Her state's Medicaid office can tell her whether its limit differs.
- 3 The calculation is: $28,000 (Countable Assets) − $2,000 (Asset Limit) = $26,000.
- 4 Maria needs to spend down $26,000 to meet the asset test. That money can go to things that do not count against her, such as paying off debts, home repairs, or an irrevocable funeral trust, rather than being given away, which would trigger the look-back penalty.
Source: Medicaid.gov — Spousal Impoverishment · Last updated: September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicaid asset limit in 2026?
What assets are exempt from Medicaid?
How do I spend down assets for Medicaid eligibility?
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