If the partners are not married, each will be treated as single when applying for Medicaid. It does not matter that they are in a relationship. But beware running afoul of the transfer rules. Married couples may freely transfer assets back and forth, but if an unmarried couple does so, it may be treated as a transfer of assets and penalized with a period of ineligibility for benefits based on the amount transferred. For more information on Medicaid asset transfer rules, go here: https://www.elderlawanswers.com/medicaids-asset-transfer-rules-1201.