New Hampshire Medicaid, run by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), covers seniors, adults, and people with disabilities through several pathways. Which one fits you depends on your age, your situation, and your income and resources. This guide lays out who qualifies, the 2026 income and asset limits for long-term care, the home-care alternative to a nursing home, and exactly how to apply.

In This Guide

Who Qualifies for NH Medicaid

New Hampshire DHHS determines both the financial and the non-financial parts of Medicaid eligibility, and the rules differ by group.

Adults age 19 to 64. New Hampshire adopted the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion and runs it as the Granite Advantage Health Care Program. It covers adults age 19 through 64 whose household income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, using Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules. With the standard 5% income disregard, the effective ceiling is often described as 138% of poverty.

Seniors (65 and older) and people with disabilities. These groups qualify through the aged, blind, and disabled pathway, which uses different income and resource tests than the MAGI adult group, including the long-term-care limits below.

Children and pregnant women have their own, more generous income thresholds. If you're applying for a child or during pregnancy, ask DHHS which category fits.

Long-Term Care: Income and Asset Limits

If you need Medicaid to help pay for a nursing home or for long-term care at home, New Hampshire applies specific financial limits.

Income. For 2026, the monthly income cap for long-term-care Medicaid is $2,982 for a single applicant. This figure, which New Hampshire calls the Nursing Facility CAP, is used to determine eligibility for nursing-facility care and for home and community-based services, and it equals the federal ceiling on the special income level, 300% of the SSI benefit rate.

Assets. The countable-resource limit for most programs is $2,500 for one individual and $4,000 for two, increasing by $100 for each additional family member. New Hampshire's $2,500 limit is higher than the federal SSI resource limit of $2,000. Not everything counts: the home you live in, your household furniture, and some vehicles are excluded.

When one spouse needs long-term care and the other stays in the community, federal spousal-impoverishment rules protect a share of the couple's income and assets for the at-home spouse. Our guide to Medicaid spousal impoverishment explains how that works.

Staying Home: Choices for Independence

You don't have to move into a nursing home to get Medicaid help with care. New Hampshire's Choices for Independence (CFI) waiver is a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for seniors and adults with chronic illnesses who are financially eligible for Medicaid and who medically qualify for the level of care provided in nursing facilities. In plain terms, it serves people who would otherwise need a nursing home but want to stay at home or in the community.

Two things to know. First, the financial limits are the long-term-care limits above, the $2,982 income cap and the $2,500 resource limit. Second, because CFI is a federal waiver rather than an open-ended entitlement, it has a limited number of enrollment slots.

If Your Income Is Too High

If your income is above the limit for your category, you may still have a path. New Hampshire's medically-needy option, which the state calls "In and Out" Medical Assistance, lets people whose income is too high for regular Medicaid qualify by spending the excess down toward their medical bills. The specific dollar standard changes, so ask DHHS what the current In-and-Out figure is for your household and how the spend-down works.

How to Apply

You apply for New Hampshire Medicaid through DHHS, and there are three ways to do it:

  • Online at NH EASY (nheasy.nh.gov), the state's secure application portal.
  • By paper, using the Application for Assistance (also called Form 800), which you can mail or drop off at a local DHHS District Office.
  • By phone, through the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447), Monday through Friday.

For long-term care, the application is a two-step process that is both financial (your income and resources) and medical (an assessment of your level of care). Keep a copy of what you submit and the date you sent it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for New Hampshire Medicaid?

Seniors, adults, people with disabilities, children, and pregnant women, through different pathways. Adults 19 to 64 qualify through Granite Advantage at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, or 138% once the standard 5% income disregard is applied; seniors and people with disabilities qualify through the aged-blind-disabled route, which includes the long-term-care limits.

What are the income and asset limits for long-term-care Medicaid in NH?

For 2026, the monthly income cap is $2,982 for a single applicant, and the countable-resource limit is $2,500 for one individual (or $4,000 for two). Your home, furniture, and some vehicles don't count.

Does New Hampshire Medicaid cover home care instead of a nursing home?

Yes. The Choices for Independence waiver covers home- and community-based care for people who are financially eligible for Medicaid and medically qualify for nursing-facility level of care. It has limited enrollment slots.

How do I apply for Medicaid in New Hampshire?

Apply online at NH EASY (nheasy.nh.gov), by paper Form 800 mailed or dropped at a DHHS District Office, or by phone at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447). For long-term care, expect a two-step financial and medical process.

What if my income is too high for NH Medicaid?

New Hampshire's medically-needy "In and Out" option may let you qualify by spending your excess income down toward medical bills. Ask DHHS for the current income standard and how the spend-down applies to you.

Keeping New Hampshire Medicaid Coverage Once You Have It

Eligibility is re-checked on a recurring cycle, and missing that step is one of the most common ways people lose coverage they still qualify for.

New Hampshire Medicaid must first try to renew your coverage automatically from information it already holds, and may only ask you for documents if it cannot. If it does need paperwork, it must send a renewal form and give you at least 30 days from the date of the form to return it. That duty, and the 90-day reconsideration window below, cover eligibility based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). If you qualify through age, disability, long-term care, a Medicare Savings Program, or the medically needy pathway, New Hampshire may offer the same windows but is not required to, so ask DHHS what applies to you.

If coverage does close because a form went unreturned, that is not the end of it. Federal rules require the agency to reconsider your eligibility without a new application if you return the renewal form within 90 days of the termination (required for MAGI-based coverage; a state option otherwise).

Keep your address current, open anything from New Hampshire Medicaid, and return a renewal form the week it arrives. See New Hampshire Medicaid Recertification and Renewal for the full cycle and how to recover closed coverage.

Learn More

MedicaidMedicaid by State: What Varies and Where to CheckMedicaid works differently in every state, from who qualifies to what's covered and how to apply. See what varies and jump to your state's full guide. MedicaidMedicaid Spousal Impoverishment ExplainedWhen one spouse needs Medicaid for long-term care, spousal impoverishment rules let the at-home spouse keep income and assets. Here's how the 2026 limits work. MedicaidMedicaid Estate Recovery ExplainedMedicaid estate recovery explained: federal law, 51-state matrix, categorical protections, hardship waivers, and 2025-2026 reform updates. Verify before acting. MedicaidHow to Appeal a Medicaid DenialDenied Medicaid? You can appeal, and one deadline decides whether your benefits keep flowing during the appeal. Know your fair-hearing rights and act fast. MedicaidNew Hampshire Medicaid Appeals and Fair HearingsAppeal a New Hampshire Medicaid denial or termination: the 30-day deadline, how to keep benefits during the appeal, and how to request a fair hearing. Care TypesThe Cost of Senior Care in New HampshireWhat senior care costs in New Hampshire in 2026, from assisted living to nursing homes and in-home care, why the state runs high, and how families pay.
Your next step Trying to work out whether you or a parent qualifies for New Hampshire Medicaid? Brevy's care navigator can help you check eligibility and start your application.

Find personalized help understanding your Medicaid options 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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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.