For millions of seniors nationwide, Medicaid provides a safety net for people who find themselves requiring long-term care. Most Americans aged 65 and older – roughly 70 percent – will need these kinds of services in their later years, according to research. Meanwhile, the cost of long-term care has been rising with every passing year. In 2023, the national median cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home reached nearly $9,000 a month.
Medicaid Coverage
Run jointly by the federal and state governments, Medicaid – which sometimes goes by other names, depending on your state – provides health insurance to low-income populations. If you need to seek Medicaid coverage for long-term care, you may be aware that you must meet strict income and resources limits to qualify. In Illinois, you cannot have more than $17,500 in “countable” resources in your name to receive long-term care Medicaid benefits.
So, what happens if you are married? Does your healthy spouse have no choice but to live in poverty?
Fortunately, no – states permit the healthy spouses of Medicaid applicants to retain a certain amount in resources and monthly income to protect them from becoming impoverished. A spouse of a long-term Care Medicaid recipient, who lives at home while the nursing home is receiving benefits, is referred to as the community spouse (CS). The amounts of the allowances that a CS is permitted to retain are, respectively, known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) and the Community Spouse Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (CSMMNA).
What are the amounts of the CSRA and the CSMMNA for 2026?
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues updated Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) and Community Spouse Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (CSMMNA) figures for community spouses. These CMS guidelines outline how much of the couple’s resources (the CSRA) and how much monthly gross income (the CSMMNA) the community spouse can keep while their Medicaid spouse receives the long-term care support they need. Generally, these allowances increase each year and, currently, these amounts vary from state to state.
Although, the state of Illinois has not yet issued a Memorandum that reflects the updated CSRA and CSMMNA amounts for 2026, based upon the current applicable state and federal laws, it is anticipated that an Illinois community spouse (a spouse who lives at home while their partner receives long-term care Medicaid benefits) will be able to retain:
- up to $143,172 in countable resources. (While this is an increase from $135,648 in 2025, it currently remains lower than the federal maximum CSRA.); and,
- $4,066.50 in monthly income (an increase from $3,948 in 2025).
Work With an Elder Law Attorney
The rules for Medicaid can quickly become complex and often vary widely by state. To ensure that you are pursuing the best coverage options for your situation, speak with a qualified elder law attorney in your area.