How much money can you have in the bank to qualify for Medicaid in Michigan?

The amount of money you can have in the bank to qualify for Medicaid in Michigan depends on the specific category of Medicaid you are applying for.

For regular income-based health coverage (such as the Healthy Michigan Plan for adults ages 19–64), there is no asset or bank account limit whatsoever. Your eligibility is determined entirely by your income.

However, for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid or Long-Term Care Medicaid (nursing homes, MI Choice Waiver, and PACE programs), Michigan enforces the following asset limits:

• Single Applicants: You can have no more than $9,950 in countable assets.
• Married Couples (Both Applying): You can have up to $9,950 per spouse.
• Married Couples (Only One Spouse Applying): The spouse who needs care can keep $9,950. The healthy spouse living at home (the "community spouse") is protected by the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) and can keep 50% of the couple's total joint assets up to a maximum of $162,660 (with a minimum floor of $32,532).

📊 Countable vs. Exempt Assets

Medicaid does not count everything you own toward the limit. Only "countable" resources apply to your bank balance threshold.

In Michigan, Medicaid exempts certain personal and essential property from your asset limit when determining long-term care or disability eligibility.

Key Exempt Assets

• Primary Residence: Your home is exempt if your spouse, minor child, or disabled child lives there, or if your home equity is under $752,000 (for 2026) and you intend to return home.
• One Vehicle: One automobile used for transportation is fully exempt, regardless of value.
• Personal Belongings: Household goods, furniture, clothing, and personal jewelry do not count.
• Prepaid Funeral and Burial Arrangements: Irrevocable burial reserves and specific prepaid funeral contracts are exempt, along with a small cash burial fund exclusion of up to $1,500.
• Life Insurance: Life insurance policies with a combined face (or cash surrender) value of $1,500 or less are typically exempt.

You can check official policy guidelines through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The amount of money you can have in the bank while on Medicaid depends entirely on how you qualify for the program and the state you live in.

1. Income-Based Medicaid (MAGI Pathway)

If you are an adult under age 65 who qualifies for Medicaid based strictly on your income (such as through the Affordable Care Act's Expanded Medicaid pathway), there is no asset limit.

• Bank Limit: Unlimited. Medicaid will not look at your bank accounts, savings, or investments. They only verify that your monthly earnings stay below their income threshold.

2. Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) & Long-Term Care Medicaid

If you qualify because you are 65 or older, blind, disabled, or requiring long-term care/nursing home services, there is a strict asset test.

• The General Rule: In most states, a single individual is only allowed to have $2,000 or less in "countable" liquid assets, which includes money in checking and savings accounts. For married couples where both are applying, the limit is usually $3,000 to $4,000.
• State Exceptions: Several states allow you to keep much more in the bank. For example:
  • California (Medi-Cal): Single individuals can have up to $130,000 in countable assets.
  • New York: The individual resource limit is roughly $30,182.
  • Illinois: The limit for Aged, Blind, and Disabled medical assistance is $17,500.
  • Michigan: The individual limit for these specific programs is $9,950.

What Counts vs. What is Exempt

If you fall under an asset-tested Medicaid program, they divide your belongings into two categories:

Important Rules to Remember

• Spousal Protections: If only one spouse needs long-term care or nursing home Medicaid, the healthy spouse living at home (the "community spouse") is heavily protected. Under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA), the non-applicant spouse is allowed to keep up to $162,660 in assets in their name.
• The Look-Back Period: If you are over the asset limit for long-term care, you cannot simply give your bank funds away to qualify. Most states utilize a 60-month (5-year) look-back period. If you transfer money out of your bank account to relatives as a gift during this window, Medicaid will penalize you by delaying your coverage.

Disclaimer: Medicaid policies vary widely by region. Always check with your local state Medicaid agency or a specialized elder law attorney to review the precise asset regulations in your area.

To qualify for Medicaid in Michigan, the amount of money you can make depends on your household size and which group you fall into. For most low-income adults under the age of 65, the program is known as the Healthy Michigan Plan, which caps gross annual income at 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

The specific income thresholds broken down by category include:

1. Healthy Michigan Plan (Adults Ages 19–64)

Most adults qualify based on income alone, with no asset limits.

(Note: Every additional person adds approximately $653 to the monthly threshold).

2. Pregnant Individuals

Pregnant women qualify at a higher income limit of 200% of the FPL to support maternal care. Coverage lasts throughout the pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum.

• Household of 2 (Mother + Unborn Child): Up to ~$2,660 per month

3. Children (Birth through Age 18)

Michigan offers expanded coverage for children under 19 up to 217% of the FPL via standard Medicaid or the MIChild (CHIP) program.

• Household of 4: Up to ~$4,940 per month
  (Families tracking near the higher end of this limit may be required to pay a minor $10 monthly premium per family).

4. Seniors (Ages 65+) and Individuals with Disabilities

For traditional Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid or Long-Term Care programs (like nursing homes or the MI Choice Waiver), different rules apply.

• Standard ABD Medicaid: The individual income limit is set at $1,330 per month, alongside an asset limit of $9,950.
• Long-Term Care / MI Choice Waiver: The gross income limit is higher, capped at $2,982 per month.

💡 What if you make too much money?

• Medically Needy "Spend-Down": If your income is slightly over the limit for elderly or disability-based Medicaid, Michigan allows a "spend-down" program. This operates like a deductible—once you incur a specific amount of medical bills in a month, Medicaid will kick in to cover the rest.
• Marketplace Subsidies: If your income exceeds the Healthy Michigan Plan caps, you will likely qualify for tax credits to drastically lower your healthcare premium costs on the HealthCare.gov marketplace.

You can check your exact eligibility requirements and apply online directly through the official Michigan MI Bridges portal.

In most states, the maximum asset limit to qualify for long-term care or non-MAGI Medicaid is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple.

However, these limits vary significantly by state and the specific Medicaid program. For standard low-income adult Medicaid (under the Affordable Care Act's expansion), an asset test is often not required at all.

Asset Limits by Category

• Single Applicant: Typically $2,000 in countable assets, though some states like New York and California have higher limits.
• Married Couples (Both Applying): Typically a combined limit of $3,000 to $4,000.
• Married Couples (One Applying): The non-applicant spouse (known as the "community spouse") can retain a much higher share of joint assets, up to a maximum of $162,660 (as of 2026) under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance.

Countable vs. Exempt Assets

Medicaid only counts "non-exempt" (liquid or convertible) assets toward your limit.

• Countable Assets: Cash, savings and checking accounts, stocks, bonds, secondary vehicles, and investment properties.
• Exempt (Non-Countable) Assets: Your primary residence (up to specific state equity limits, or fully exempt if a spouse lives there), one primary vehicle, personal belongings, and certain pre-paid burial plots or irrevocable funeral trusts.