Maine Medicaid income limits for long-term care sit at $2,982 a month in 2026, and MaineCare lets a single applicant hold up to $8,000 of savings on top of its $2,000 asset limit. That savings exclusion makes Maine more generous than the bare $2,000 SSI standard, and some applicants whose only problem is income may still qualify through a medically needy deductible (a spend-down).

This guide covers the 2026 income and asset rules for MaineCare, the name Maine gives its Medicaid program, for aged, blind, and disabled residents who need nursing-facility or home-based long-term care: the savings disregard, the income limit, the medically needy spend-down, what a nursing-home resident keeps, what a spouse at home is protected from, and how to apply.

In This Guide

Which Maine Medicaid income limit applies to a senior

Maine expanded Medicaid, so a working-age adult qualifies on a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) basis tied to a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level, with no asset test., That is not the test a senior seeking long-term care faces. An aged, blind, or disabled applicant who needs nursing-facility or home-based care is measured against the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) related rules described in this guide: a fixed monthly income standard and a hard asset test.

That distinction matters because calculator sites often surface a MAGI poverty-level percentage on a senior's search. For a parent or spouse who needs long-term care, the operative numbers are the $2,982 monthly income limit and the $2,000 asset limit (plus up to $8,000 of excluded savings) below, not a MAGI chart.

Under 65 and not on Medicare? The MaineCare adult income limit

Everything else in this guide is written for a senior who needs long-term care. If you are a working-age adult in Maine (say you are 60, retired early or between jobs, and not yet on Medicare), a simpler and more generous rule applies, and it is the one the sections above deliberately set aside. Maine adopted the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, one of the 41 states including the District of Columbia that had done so as of 2026, so MaineCare covers adults ages 19 through 64 through what federal law calls the new adult group.,

On this pathway you qualify with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which works out to roughly $22,000 a year, or about $1,835 a month, for one person in 2026. That is 138% of the $15,960 annual poverty guideline that applies to a single person in the 48 contiguous states., Eligibility is measured on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), the same tax-based figure used for Marketplace subsidies, and there is no asset test on this track. Your savings, a car, and a retirement account do not count against you the way they do on the long-term-care rules above.

One detail trips up early retirees. On the MAGI pathway, Social Security benefits count in full, including any portion that is not taxable and so never shows up in your adjusted gross income. So if you claimed Social Security early, the whole benefit, not just the taxable part, counts toward that roughly $1,835 monthly figure.

What changes at 65

The new adult group is defined around age and Medicare status, not just income, so it closes for you when you turn 65 or become entitled to or enrolled in Medicare, whichever comes first. Turning 65 does not by itself end every MAGI pathway, though. Someone 65 or older who qualifies as a parent or other caretaker relative is still assessed under MAGI rules with no asset test, against the separate income standard the state sets for that group. Otherwise you are measured on the aged, blind, and disabled rules instead, and an asset test appears that never applied to you before: $2,000 for a single person, plus Maine's $8,000 savings exclusion. If your income turns out to be too high for full MaineCare at that point, look next at Maine's Medicare Savings Programs, which have their own income rules.

The savings disregard is the Maine story

The SSI resource limit for a single person is $2,000 in countable assets. Maine is more generous. MaineCare, run by the Maine Office for Family Independence (OFI), applies that same $2,000 limit but then excludes up to $8,000 of savings for an individual, so a single applicant may hold up to $8,000 of savings on top of the $2,000 limit. Where both spouses are applying, the limit is $3,000 and up to $12,000 of savings is excluded on top of it. Where only one spouse enters long-term care and the other stays home, the disregard works differently: Maine applies the $8,000 exclusion to the share of assets deemed available to the spouse entering care, not to the couple's combined total and not to what the at-home spouse is allowed to keep.

That extra $8,000 is real money. It is the difference between a widow having to drain her checking account to the last $2,000 and being allowed to keep a modest cushion for the things Medicaid will not cover.

Some assets never enter the count at all. Maine excludes a primary home (subject to an equity limit), one vehicle used to transport the household, household goods, and an irrevocable prepaid burial contract set up on or after April 1, 2024, up to Maine's statewide average burial and funeral cost, listed as $18,985 in Maine's 2026 guidelines. A burial contract worth more than that is not disqualifying by itself, but the estate must be named beneficiary of any funds left after the funeral is paid for. So the $2,000 limit falls on things like a second car and investments, savings above the $8,000 exclusion count toward it, and the roof over your head does not.

How the Maine Medicaid income limits work

For nursing-facility and home- and community-based waiver coverage, MaineCare sets the 2026 income limit at $2,982/month. Maine's eligibility rule sets this special income standard at three times the maximum federal SSI payment for one person, the SSI Federal Benefit Rate of $994/month in 2026.,

Being over $2,982 is not always the end of the road. MaineCare also runs a medically needy spend-down (a "deductible") for some applicants who meet every other condition except that their monthly income is over the limit. Countable income is compared to a Protected Income Level, and Maine's is strikingly low, so know the number before you apply: $315 a month for a household of one and $341 for a household of two, levels in effect since November 1991. An applicant whose income is above that level must spend the excess on incurred medical costs before coverage begins.

The deductible is not a one-time hurdle. Once it is met, DHHS says coverage is granted for the rest of a limited period, usually six months or less, and then the spend-down starts over. DHHS's 2026 guidelines also list the medically needy deductible under its other medical assistance programs, not under its long-term-care programs, so ask OFI directly whether it can reach the nursing-facility or waiver care your family needs.

What a nursing-home resident keeps

When MaineCare pays for nursing-facility care, the resident contributes their monthly income toward the cost of that care, less allowable deductions. What they keep for themselves is the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), money set aside for small personal expenses like clothing, a haircut, or a phone. In Maine that allowance is $40/month for a nursing-facility resident, just above the $30 federal floor.,

Be careful with the $50 figure that circulates widely for Maine. In Maine, $50 is the allowance for a residential care resident who receives SSI ($70 for one who does not), and an HCBS waiver participant keeps far more, $2,609 a month. A committee amendment to Maine's LD 539 provided that DHHS would amend the rule by January 1, 2020 to raise the nursing-facility allowance from $40 to $50, but that amendment text does not itself show the measure was finally enacted, and both Chapter 332 as filed with the Secretary of State and DHHS's 2026 MaineCare eligibility guidelines still say $40. So $40 is what Maine applies today; if you are budgeting against it, confirm the current figure with OFI.

The same savings exclusion applies to nursing-home applicants, so a single resident can hold up to $8,000 of savings on top of the $2,000 asset limit. A resident whose income is above $2,982 should ask OFI about the medically needy deductible described above. For the national picture on how the PNA is calculated, see our explainer on the Medicaid personal needs allowance.

The five-year look-back

Maine reviews asset transfers made in the 60 months before a long-term-care application., Giving away money or property for less than fair market value during that window, signing a house over to a child for a dollar, or gifting a grandchild a down payment, can trigger a penalty period during which MaineCare will not pay for nursing-facility care or waiver services, even though you are otherwise eligible; the rest of your MaineCare coverage is not withdrawn by the penalty. The length of that penalty is the total uncompensated value transferred divided by Maine's average private-pay nursing-home rate, $13,339 a month for 2026, so a $50,000 gift buys a wait of nearly four months.,

There are legitimate exceptions (transfers between spouses, transfers to a blind or permanently and totally disabled child, certain caregiver-child home transfers) and legitimate planning approaches, but anything done inside the five-year window deserves an elder-law attorney's review first. If long-term care is on the horizon for someone in your family, talk to a professional before moving assets. For the broader toolkit, see our guide to Medicaid planning strategies.

Protecting the spouse who stays home

When one spouse needs long-term care and the other stays in the community, federal spousal-impoverishment rules keep the at-home spouse from being left with nothing. Maine publishes its own community-spouse asset figure, and on the income side uses the federal standards CMS republishes each year, so confirm the amount in force with OFI. The 2026 figures:,

Protection 2026 Amount What it does
Community Spouse Asset Allowance (Maine's CSRA) All the couple's countable assets, up to $162,660 Maine does not split the couple's assets in half. The at-home spouse keeps everything up to this amount; only the amount above it is treated as available to the spouse entering care, on top of that spouse's own limit. An administrative hearing can raise the allowance where the at-home spouse's income falls short of the monthly allowance.
Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) From $2,705/month (effective 7/1/2026) up to a federal maximum of $4,066.50 (effective 1/1/2026) Income can be shifted from the applicant to bring the at-home spouse up to this allowance. The $4,066.50 figure is the standard maximum, not an entitlement, and higher shelter costs are what move the allowance toward it. Separately, a fair hearing can grant more income where exceptional circumstances cause significant financial duress.

So a married couple sits in a very different position from a single applicant, and in Maine that position is better than the half-the-assets rule most families expect. The community spouse keeps the couple's countable assets outright up to $162,660, and only what sits above that amount counts toward the spouse entering care; a hearing can protect more where the at-home spouse needs the income. On the income side the allowance starts at $2,705 a month and can rise toward the $4,066.50 maximum with higher shelter costs, and a fair hearing can grant additional income in cases of significant financial duress.

After death: estate recovery

Like every state, Maine runs a Medicaid estate-recovery program. After a recipient who was 55 or older when they received care dies, federal law requires the state to seek repayment from the estate for nursing-facility services, home- and community-based services, and related hospital and prescription drug services. Maine limits its claim to exactly those services. Maine's estate also reaches past probate, to life estates, living-trust assets, and jointly held personal property, but not to real estate held in joint tenancy. Federal exceptions apply: recovery waits until a surviving spouse has died, and cannot happen while a surviving child is under 21, blind, or permanently and totally disabled. Where the state placed a lien on the home, recovery must also wait while either of two relatives still lives there, having lived there continuously since the recipient's admission to the care facility: a sibling who lived in the home for at least a year before that admission, or a son or daughter who lived there for at least two years before it and provided care that let the recipient stay home rather than in an institution. The agency must also waive recovery where it would work an undue hardship., For how recovery works and where families have room to plan, see our Medicaid estate recovery explainer.

How to apply

MaineCare eligibility is determined by the Office for Family Independence (OFI). You can apply online through My Maine Connection, by mailing, emailing, or faxing an application to OFI, or in person at a DHHS district office. Apply even if you think you are over the limit: the $8,000 savings exclusion and the medically needy deductible can change the answer, and OFI makes the call.

My Maine Connection Apply online for MaineCare, food assistance, and other benefits in one place. www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi
Maine Office for Family Independence (OFI) Call with eligibility or application questions. 1-855-797-4357
MaineCare Member Services Questions about covered services once you are on MaineCare. 1-800-977-6740

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Maine Medicaid income limits for 2026?

For nursing-facility and waiver coverage, MaineCare's 2026 income limit is $2,982/month, equal to 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate of $994/month. Income above that is not always the end: MaineCare's medically needy deductible lets some applicants who meet every other condition spend the excess on medical costs, for coverage that lasts a limited period (usually six months or less) at a time. DHHS lists the deductible outside its long-term-care programs, so ask OFI whether it reaches the care you need.

What is the MaineCare income limit for an adult under 65?

Because Maine expanded Medicaid, an adult ages 19 through 64 who is not on Medicare qualifies for MaineCare with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, about $22,000 a year or roughly $1,835 a month for one person in 2026. This pathway uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income and applies no asset test, so savings do not count. It closes when you turn 65 or get Medicare. A parent or caretaker relative 65 or older can stay on MAGI rules; otherwise the aged, blind, and disabled rules take over, and an asset test appears.

What is the MaineCare asset limit?

$2,000 in countable assets for a single applicant, with up to $8,000 of savings excluded on top of that. Where both spouses are applying, the limit is $3,000 with up to $12,000 of savings excluded; where only one spouse enters care, the spousal-impoverishment rules govern instead. The home (up to an equity limit), one vehicle, household goods, and a qualifying irrevocable prepaid burial contract, up to $18,985, are excluded from the count.

How does the MaineCare spend-down (deductible) work?

It is available to some applicants who meet every other condition except that their monthly income is over the limit. Income above Maine's Protected Income Level, $315 a month for a household of one and $341 for a household of two (levels in effect since November 1991), must be spent on incurred medical costs before coverage begins. Coverage then lasts for the rest of a limited period, usually six months or less, and the deductible starts over. DHHS lists the deductible under its other medical assistance programs rather than its long-term-care programs, so confirm with OFI whether it applies to nursing-facility or waiver care.

How much can a spouse keep when the other spouse enters a nursing home?

More than many families expect, because Maine does not split the couple's assets in half. The at-home (community) spouse keeps all of the couple's countable assets up to $162,660 for 2026, and only the amount above that is treated as available to the spouse entering care; a hearing can raise the allowance where the at-home spouse needs the income. On income, the community spouse's monthly maintenance needs allowance runs from $2,705 (effective July 1, 2026) up to a federal maximum of $4,066.50, with higher shelter costs moving it toward the top, and a fair hearing can grant more in cases of significant financial duress.

What does a nursing-home resident on MaineCare get to keep?

A Personal Needs Allowance of $40/month for small personal expenses, not the $50 often quoted. In Maine, $50 is the allowance for a residential-care resident who receives SSI ($70 for one who does not), and an HCBS waiver participant keeps $2,609 a month. A committee amendment to Maine's LD 539 called for raising the nursing-facility figure to $50 by January 1, 2020, but Chapter 332 and the 2026 DHHS guidelines still say $40, so confirm the current amount with OFI. The rest of the resident's monthly income goes toward the cost of care, after deductions for a community spouse and certain health-insurance premiums.

Does Maine have a five-year look-back?

Yes. Maine reviews asset transfers made in the 60 months before a long-term-care application. Transfers for less than fair market value during that window can trigger a penalty period, with exceptions for transfers to a spouse, a blind or permanently and totally disabled child, and certain caregiver-child home transfers. A penalty blocks payment for nursing-facility and waiver care, not the rest of your MaineCare coverage.

Learn More

MedicaidMedicaid Income Limits by State: Which Number Applies to YouMedicaid income limits for 2026 depend on your pathway: expansion adults, aged and disabled, or nursing-home care. See the figures and your state's limits. MedicaidHow to Apply for MaineCareHow to apply for Maine Medicaid (MaineCare) in 2026: online via My Maine Connection, by mail, e-mail, or fax, or in person. Documents, spend-down, and appeals. MedicaidMaine Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment RulesMaine Medicaid spousal impoverishment 2026: a CSRA up to $162,660, the $2,705.00 monthly income floor the at-home spouse is lifted to, and the home rules. MedicaidMaine Medicare Savings ProgramsMaine Medicare Savings Programs in 2026: QMB, SLMB, and QI income limits, what each pays, Part D Extra Help, and how to apply through MaineCare and Maine SHIP. MedicaidMedicaid Planning StrategiesSee which assets you keep, how the 5-year look-back works, and the legal moves that qualify you for Medicaid long-term care without losing the house. MedicaidHow Medicaid Estate Recovery WorksMedicaid estate recovery can claim a home after death, but not while a spouse or a child under 21, blind or disabled survives. See your state's rules. MedicaidThe Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance, ExplainedHow the Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance works in 2026: the $30 federal floor, what the states set, and how patient liability is calculated.

Find personalized help working through Maine Medicaid eligibility for your family at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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