To apply for New Mexico Medicaid (Centennial Care) for long-term care, start at YesNM or call 1-800-283-4465. If your income exceeds $2,982 per month, you must set up a Miller Trust before submitting your application. This guide walks through each application channel, the Miller Trust requirement, the documents you'll need, and what happens after you apply.
Before You Apply: The Miller Trust Requirement
New Mexico operates as an income-cap state. That means the state does not offer a medically needy spend-down pathway for nursing-facility or home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver applicants. If your gross monthly income exceeds $2,982, you do not simply pay the difference -- you are ineligible unless you first establish a Qualified Income Trust, commonly called a Miller Trust.
A Miller Trust is a legal document that redirects income above the cap into a dedicated trust account each month. The trust funds are then applied toward the cost of care, the state's Medicaid share, and a few permitted expenses. The trust must be established before the application is submitted; the New Mexico Health Care Authority will not approve an application from an income-over-cap applicant who has not yet set one up.
What you need to know about the Miller Trust in New Mexico:
- Who needs one: Any applicant whose gross monthly income (Social Security, pension, annuity, and other income combined) exceeds $2,982.
- Who sets it up: An elder law attorney. The trust must be irrevocable, sole-benefit, and name the state as the remainder beneficiary.
- What goes in each month: The excess above $2,982 is deposited into the trust each month. The trust pays the nursing facility first, then the state's share.
- Timeline: Trust establishment typically takes one to two weeks with an attorney, so don't wait until the application is ready to start.
If your income is at or below $2,982, you can skip this step and apply directly.
How to Apply for New Mexico Medicaid (Centennial Care)
The New Mexico Health Care Authority administers Centennial Care. Applications for aged, blind, and disabled individuals are processed by the Income Support Division (ISD). You have two main channels: online through YesNM or by phone.
Online Through YesNM
The YesNM portal at yes.state.nm.us is the fastest way to apply for New Mexico Medicaid. You can start an application, upload documents, and track your case status from the same account.
Steps to apply online:
- Go to yes.state.nm.us and create an account or log in.
- Select "Apply for Benefits" and choose Medicaid.
- Complete the application. It covers household composition, income, assets, and care needs. Have your documents ready before you start (see the documents section below).
- Upload supporting documents directly through the portal. This is the fastest way to satisfy the verification step.
- Submit. You'll receive a confirmation and a case number.
After submission, log back in periodically to check whether ISD has requested additional documents. Requests often appear in the portal before the paper notice arrives.
By Phone Through the Income Support Division
Call 1-800-283-4465 to speak with an ISD caseworker who can take your application over the phone.
Phone applications work the same way as online ones, but you'll still need to submit paper or scanned documents by mail or fax. Have your documents organized before you call to make the process faster.
ISD also has local field offices across New Mexico. If you prefer to apply in person or need help with the paperwork, find your nearest ISD office through the New Mexico Health Care Authority website.
Not sure if you qualify? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com to check your eligibility and get help with next steps.
What Documents You'll Need
Gather these before you apply. Missing documents are the most common reason applications stall.
Identity and residency:
- Social Security card
- U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization
- New Mexico driver's license or state ID
- Proof of New Mexico residency (utility bill, lease, or similar)
Income:
- Social Security award letter or SSA-1099
- Pension and annuity statements
- Any other monthly income documentation
Assets and financial accounts:
- Bank statements for all checking and savings accounts. For nursing-facility or HCBS-waiver applications, ISD typically reviews up to 60 months (five years) of account history to apply the look-back rules.
- Statements for retirement accounts, CDs, and investment accounts
- Life insurance policies (cash surrender value, if any)
- Vehicle title or registration
Property:
- Property deed and recent property tax bill for any real estate
- Documentation of the primary home's current equity value if you own your home
For Miller Trust applicants:
- A copy of the executed trust document, signed by the grantor and trustee and notarized
Medical:
- Medicare card (if applicable)
- Health insurance cards
- Medical bills if you're documenting care need or unreimbursed expenses
Spousal Protections
If one spouse is applying for nursing-facility or HCBS-waiver Medicaid while the other remains at home, New Mexico follows federal spousal impoverishment rules.
- Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA): The at-home spouse may keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in countable assets, depending on the couple's total countable resources at the time of application.
- Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA): The at-home spouse may keep monthly income of at least $2,643.75 (effective 7/1/2025) and up to $4,066.50 (effective 1/1/2026). If the spouse's own income falls short of the minimum, the institutionalized spouse's income can be redirected to make up the difference. The shelter standard used in this calculation is $793.13/month.
- Personal Needs Allowance: The nursing-facility resident keeps $97/month from their income for personal expenses. This is among the highest PNA figures in the United States, which matters for residents who want some flexibility for haircuts, personal items, or phone service.
The 60-Month Look-Back
When you apply for nursing-facility or HCBS-waiver Medicaid, ISD reviews the past 60 months (five years) of financial records for gifts or asset transfers made below fair market value. If a disqualifying transfer is found, ISD calculates a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for care.
What counts as a transfer: gifts of cash, transferring property for less than fair-market value, and certain trust-funding arrangements. What does not count: transfers between spouses, transfers of the home to a caregiver child who lived in the home for at least two years, and transfers to a disabled child.
If you made transfers in the past five years, consult an elder law attorney before applying. The timing and structuring of the application can affect whether a penalty applies.
What Happens After You Apply
ISD is required to make an eligibility decision within 45 days for aged, blind, and disabled applicants. This window can extend to 90 days if a disability determination is needed for applicants under 65.
During that window:
- Verification. ISD may contact you for additional documents. Respond promptly. If you miss a document request deadline, the application may be denied on procedural grounds even if you would otherwise qualify.
- Assessment. For nursing-facility and HCBS-waiver applications, ISD coordinates a clinical assessment to confirm that the applicant needs a nursing-facility level of care.
- Decision notice. If approved, you'll receive a notice stating the coverage start date, your managed care plan assignment under Centennial Care, and any cost-sharing obligations. If denied, the notice explains the reason and your right to appeal.
Need help with the process? Brevy's care navigator can walk you through the application step by step. Visit brevy.com.
If Your Application Is Denied
You have 90 days from the date of a denial notice to request a fair hearing. To request one, contact the Income Support Division by mail, in person at an ISD office, or by calling 1-800-283-4465.
Common reasons for denial -- and what to do:
- Income over the cap without a Miller Trust. Establish the trust with an elder law attorney, then reapply.
- Assets over the $2,000 limit. Review which assets are countable vs. exempt (your home, one vehicle, and personal effects are typically exempt). Consult an elder law attorney about planning options before reapplying.
- Missing documents. Gather the requested items and file for a hearing or reapply.
- Transfer penalty. The hearing process is the appropriate place to contest whether a transfer was a valid exception or to present evidence it was not a disqualifying transfer.
At the hearing, a hearing officer reviews your case and issues a written decision. If you disagree with the outcome, you can appeal to district court.
Where to Get Free Help
New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD). ALTSD funds Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across the state that provide free benefits counseling for adults 60 and older. aging.nm.gov
SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). New Mexico's SHIP program offers free one-on-one counseling on Medicare, Medicaid, and Medigap through ALTSD and local AAA offices.
Legal Aid New Mexico. Provides free civil legal services, including Medicaid applications and appeals, for qualifying low-income New Mexicans. legalaidnm.org
NCOA BenefitsCheckUp. Use the BenefitsCheckUp tool for a quick online eligibility screen before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but you must set up a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) before submitting your application. The trust redirects the income above $2,982 each month toward the cost of care. An elder law attorney can prepare the trust document, which typically takes one to two weeks. Once the trust is in place, you can apply through YesNM or by calling 1-800-283-4465.
ISD has 45 days to make an eligibility decision for aged, blind, and disabled applicants. That window can extend to 90 days if a disability determination is required. Document verification is the most common source of delays -- respond immediately to any requests from ISD and upload documents through the YesNM portal to speed up the process.
Yes. For nursing-facility and HCBS-waiver Medicaid, ISD reviews 60 months (five years) of financial records to check for gifts or below-market asset transfers. You'll need to provide bank statements going back five years. If you made any transfers in that window, consult an elder law attorney before applying to understand whether a penalty period applies.
New Mexico's PNA is $97 per month for nursing-facility residents -- one of the highest in the country. Most of a resident's income goes toward the cost of care each month, so the PNA is the amount the resident keeps for personal expenses like clothing, toiletries, haircuts, and phone service. The higher the PNA, the more day-to-day flexibility a resident has. New Mexico's $97 figure compares favorably to states that set the PNA at $30 or $50 per month.
Yes, a married couple can both apply, and the asset limit for a couple with both spouses applying is $4,000 combined ($2,000 each). In practice, it's more common for one spouse to apply for nursing-facility Medicaid while the other remains at home; in that case, federal spousal impoverishment rules allow the at-home spouse to keep a larger share of the couple's assets (up to $162,660) and a protected monthly income.
Learn More
- New Mexico Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
- Medicaid Estate Recovery Explained
Find personalized help applying for New Mexico Medicaid 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.