Ohio Spousal Impoverishment (2026): CSRA & MMMNA Guide

If you and your spouse are facing Ohio Long-Term Care Medicaid because one of you needs nursing facility care or HCBS waiver services and the other will continue living in the community, federal spousal impoverishment rules are the single most important protection between you and financial catastrophe. Before these rules were enacted in the 1988 Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act, the community spouse routinely faced poverty after their partner entered a nursing facility because all marital assets and income were counted against the institutionalized spouse, leaving the community spouse with little or nothing to live on. The federal rules at 42 USC 1396r-5 and Ohio's implementation at OAC 5160:1-6-04 reserve specific amounts of resources and income for the community spouse so they can remain in the community without impoverishment. This guide walks through how the snapshot date fixes the resource assessment, how the 2026 Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is calculated between minimum and maximum bounds, how the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) sets the income protection floor, how the Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance (CSMIA) diverts income from the institutionalized spouse, how the Excess Shelter Allowance can raise the MMMNA when housing costs are high, how to appeal for a higher allowance, and how the rules apply across the four major Ohio HCBS waivers in addition to standalone nursing facility Medicaid.

By Brevy Care Team · Last verified May 11, 2026

Why these rules exist

Before 1988, Medicaid treated married couples as a single economic unit for Long-Term Care eligibility. All marital assets and all marital income were considered available to pay for the institutionalized spouse's care. The community spouse was expected to spend the family savings on nursing facility costs until the couple's joint assets reached the Medicaid resource limit, at which point Medicaid would begin paying for the institutionalized spouse's care. The community spouse, often elderly themselves and without independent means of support, was left to live on whatever income remained after the institutionalized spouse's care was paid for, frequently below the federal poverty level.

Congress recognized the obvious unfairness and enacted the spousal impoverishment provisions as part of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988. The rest of that statute was repealed in 1989, but the spousal impoverishment provisions survived and have been amended periodically since. The rules now codified at 42 USC 1396r-5 establish two protections:

Resource protection. A portion of the couple's combined countable resources is set aside for the community spouse and exempted from the institutionalized spouse's Medicaid asset eligibility calculation. The protected amount is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA).

Income protection. A portion of the couple's combined income (specifically the institutionalized spouse's income) is reserved for the community spouse's support up to a defined minimum allowance. The reservation amount is the Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance (CSMIA), calculated against the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA).

Originally, spousal impoverishment rules applied only to nursing facility Medicaid (institutional care). The Affordable Care Act extended mandatory application to HCBS waiver programs effective January 1, 2014, recognizing that institutional and community-based long-term care should be treated equivalently. This is why every Ohio HCBS waiver applicant married to a community spouse can claim the same protections that NF applicants get.

Ohio implements the federal rules at OAC 5160:1-6-04 and operationalizes them through the Ohio Department of Medicaid Eligibility Policy Manual, the annual MEPL bulletins (MEPL 194 for 2026 figures), and county-level processing at CDJFS offices.

The snapshot date: why it matters so much

Under 42 USC 1396r-5(c)(1)(A), the resource assessment is performed as of a single specific date called the snapshot date. The snapshot date establishes the universe of countable resources that will be divided between the spouses for eligibility purposes. Any acquisition, disposition, conversion, or other change in resources after the snapshot date does not change the assessment.

For nursing facility Medicaid, the snapshot date is generally the first day of the first continuous period of institutionalization of at least 30 consecutive days. If a spouse enters a hospital on April 5, transfers to a skilled nursing facility on April 12, and remains in that NF or another institutional setting for 30 or more consecutive days, the snapshot date is April 5 (the start of the continuous institutionalization).

For HCBS waiver applicants, the snapshot date is generally the date of the HCBS waiver application or the date the applicant first becomes eligible for waiver services. ODA, AAA, and ODM coordinate the snapshot date for waiver applicants.

Why the snapshot date is consequential. The snapshot freezes the resource picture at a specific moment, then locks in the CSRA calculation. A few specific implications:

• Resources spent down after the snapshot do not reduce the CSRA. If the couple has $200,000 in countable resources on the snapshot date, the CSRA is set based on $200,000 even if some of that money is later spent legitimately on care costs.
• Resources acquired after the snapshot generally do not increase the institutionalized spouse's available resources for Medicaid eligibility (with some exceptions for inheritances and other windfalls that may trigger separate eligibility recalculation).
• Resources transferred shortly before the snapshot may trigger the 60-month lookback under 42 USC 1396p(c)(1) and OAC 5160:1-6-06.5, causing a transfer penalty. Planning around the snapshot date is a significant area of elder-law practice because the timing of the snapshot relative to any anticipated transfers, conversions, or restructurings is critical.
• Re-snapshot rules. Generally, the snapshot date is fixed once established. If the institutionalized spouse returns to the community for a period and is then re-institutionalized, a new continuous-period analysis applies but the original snapshot may still control depending on the gap and the circumstances.

The Resource Assessment Form. Ohio CDJFS conducts the resource assessment either at the time of Medicaid application or, on request, in advance of any application (a process sometimes called a "preliminary resource assessment" or "spousal assessment"). The advance assessment is a valuable planning tool because it lets the couple know what the CSRA will be before they actually apply, giving them time to structure their finances correctly.

The 2026 CSRA: minimum, maximum, and the half-rule

Under 42 USC 1396r-5(f) and OAC 5160:1-6-04, the Community Spouse Resource Allowance is calculated using the following sequence:

Step 1: Identify countable resources on the snapshot date. Countable resources include all non-exempt assets of either spouse, including bank accounts, brokerage accounts, mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds, certificates of deposit, cash value of life insurance above defined exclusions, real estate other than the primary residence and reasonably appurtenant land, vehicles beyond one exempt vehicle, recreational vehicles, boats, cash, and other accessible assets. Exempt assets at OAC 5160:1-6-06 generally include the primary residence subject to home equity rules, one vehicle, personal property and household effects, pre-paid funeral arrangements within limits, and term life insurance.

Step 2: Divide total countable resources in half. The community spouse's protected share starts at half of the couple's total countable resources on the snapshot date.

Step 3: Apply the minimum and maximum bounds. Ohio's 2026 figures (set federally and applied uniformly across states):

• Minimum CSRA: $32,532. If half of countable resources is less than $32,532, the community spouse retains the minimum.
• Maximum CSRA: $162,660. If half of countable resources exceeds $162,660, the community spouse retains the maximum.
• Half-rule range: If half of countable resources falls between $32,532 and $162,660, the community spouse retains that half-rule amount.

Step 4: Apply any higher amount established by court order or State Hearing. Under 42 USC 1396r-5(e)(2) and (f)(2), a State Hearing or court order can raise the CSRA above the standard maximum when justified by exceptional circumstances, particularly when the community spouse needs additional income-producing resources to meet the MMMNA.

Step 5: Determine the institutionalized spouse's available resources. Total countable resources minus the CSRA equals the institutionalized spouse's available resources. The institutionalized spouse's resource limit for Medicaid eligibility is $2,000 (individual). The institutionalized spouse must spend down or convert any available resources above $2,000 before eligibility begins.

Worked example 1: CSRA in the half-rule range

The Wilsons have combined countable resources of $180,000 on the snapshot date. Half is $90,000, which falls between $32,532 and $162,660.

• Community Spouse CSRA: $90,000
• Institutionalized Spouse's available resources: $180,000 - $90,000 = $90,000
• Spend-down to eligibility: $90,000 - $2,000 = $88,000 must be spent down legitimately or otherwise reduced before Medicaid eligibility begins. Allowable spend-down includes care costs, exempt-asset conversion (paying off mortgage on exempt home, prepaying funeral, replacing the exempt vehicle), and other strategies an elder-law attorney can structure within the 60-month lookback rules.

Worked example 2: CSRA at the minimum

The Diazes have combined countable resources of $40,000 on the snapshot date. Half is $20,000, below the minimum of $32,532.

• Community Spouse CSRA: $32,532 (minimum applied)
• Institutionalized Spouse's available resources: $40,000 - $32,532 = $7,468
• Spend-down to eligibility: $7,468 - $2,000 = $5,468 must be spent down.

Worked example 3: CSRA at the maximum

The Andersons have combined countable resources of $600,000 on the snapshot date. Half is $300,000, above the maximum of $162,660.

• Community Spouse CSRA: $162,660 (maximum applied) unless a higher amount is established by State Hearing
• Institutionalized Spouse's available resources: $600,000 - $162,660 = $437,340
• Spend-down to eligibility: $437,340 - $2,000 = $435,338 must be spent down or restructured. At this asset level, sophisticated elder-law planning is essential and may include irrevocable trust planning, annuity purchases that comply with Ohio rules at OAC 5160:1-6-06.1, promissory note structures, and other strategies that must navigate the 60-month lookback.

The 2026 MMMNA and the CSMIA mechanic

The income side of spousal impoverishment operates separately from the resource side, with its own minimum, its own maximum, and its own shelter cost adjustment.

Minimum MMMNA. The federal minimum MMMNA is calculated as 150 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of two, indexed annually each July 1. For the period 1/1/2026 through 6/30/2026, the MMMNA minimum is $2,643.75 per month. The 7/1/2026 update is based on the new federal poverty guidelines.

Maximum MMMNA. The federal maximum MMMNA is set in statute and indexed annually each January 1. For 2026, the maximum is $4,066.50 per month.

Excess Shelter Allowance. Under 42 USC 1396r-5(d)(3) and OAC 5160:1-6-04, the MMMNA can be raised above the minimum (but not above the maximum) when the community spouse's shelter costs exceed 30 percent of the minimum MMMNA. The calculation:

• Shelter costs = rent or mortgage payment + property taxes + homeowners insurance + condo/HOA fees + Standard Utility Allowance ($593 in Ohio for 2026, per ODM Help Sheet) for utility expenses (or actual utility costs if claimed and documented)
• Shelter threshold = 30 percent × MMMNA minimum = 30 percent × $2,643.75 = $793.13 (the OH Help Sheet "Excess Shelter Allowance standard" reflects this exact calculation)
• Excess Shelter Allowance (ESA) = Shelter costs - $793.13, if positive
• Adjusted MMMNA = MMMNA minimum + ESA, capped at MMMNA maximum

The Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance (CSMIA) is the amount diverted from the institutionalized spouse's monthly income to bring the community spouse up to the applicable MMMNA. The formula:

CSMIA = MMMNA - community spouse's own gross monthly income

If the community spouse's own gross income already meets or exceeds the MMMNA, the CSMIA is zero and no income is diverted. If the community spouse has no income of their own, the CSMIA equals the full MMMNA.

The CSMIA is paid out of the institutionalized spouse's income before the post-eligibility patient liability calculation under 42 CFR 435.726. For institutionalized spouses with income exceeding the 2026 Special Income Limit of $2,982 and therefore requiring a Miller Trust, the CSMIA is paid as a distribution from the Miller Trust to the community spouse each month.

Worked example 4: MMMNA, no shelter adjustment

Mrs. Patel is the community spouse. Her own gross monthly income (Social Security) is $1,200. Her shelter costs total $700 per month (mortgage paid off, modest property tax and insurance, utility allowance applied). Shelter cost is below the $793.13 threshold so no ESA applies.

• Applicable MMMNA: $2,643.75 (minimum)
• CSMIA: $2,643.75 - $1,200 = $1,443.75 diverted from the institutionalized spouse's income to Mrs. Patel each month
• Mr. Patel (institutionalized) pays the rest of his income (after PNA and Medicare premiums) as patient liability

Worked example 5: MMMNA with Excess Shelter Allowance

Mrs. Hartman is the community spouse. Her own gross monthly income is $900. Her shelter costs total $1,650 per month (mortgage payment + property taxes + homeowners insurance + Standard Utility Allowance).

• Shelter costs ($1,650) > threshold ($793.13). ESA = $1,650 - $793.13 = $856.87
• Adjusted MMMNA: $2,643.75 + $856.87 = $3,500.62 (below maximum $4,066.50, so applies)
• CSMIA: $3,500.62 - $900 = $2,600.62 diverted from institutionalized spouse to Mrs. Hartman each month

Worked example 6: MMMNA capped at maximum

Mr. Solomon (community spouse) lives in a high-cost-of-living area with shelter costs of $3,500 per month and own gross income of $500. Calculated ESA would push the MMMNA to $2,643.75 + ($3,500 - $793.13) = $5,350.62, but the maximum is $4,066.50.

• Applicable MMMNA: $4,066.50 (capped at maximum)
• CSMIA: $4,066.50 - $500 = $3,566.50 (the maximum CSMIA the standard rules allow)
• Note: Mr. Solomon may qualify for a raised CSRA via State Hearing or court order if the institutionalized spouse's income is insufficient to bring him up to the actual cost of his shelter, allowing more resources to be retained for income generation.

Raising the MMMNA via State Hearing

When the standard MMMNA calculation (including Excess Shelter Allowance up to the maximum) leaves the community spouse unable to meet their actual living expenses, federal and Ohio law allow the community spouse to request a raised MMMNA through a State Hearing under OAC 5101:6-7-01.

Grounds for raising the MMMNA above the standard maximum:

• Actual shelter costs exceeding the standard Excess Shelter Allowance calculation
• Exceptional medical expenses of the community spouse
• Other exceptional circumstances justifying a higher allowance

Process:

1. File a State Hearing request within 90 days of the Medicaid eligibility decision or income calculation that the community spouse is challenging
2. Submit documentation of all shelter costs (lease or mortgage statement, property tax bills, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, utility bills if claiming actuals rather than SUA)
3. Document any additional grounds (medical expenses, other costs)
4. Present at the State Hearing or have an elder-law attorney represent the case
5. The hearing officer issues a decision; if granted, the raised MMMNA applies going forward

Aid pending hearing is available if the request is filed within 15 days of the adverse notice. File at 1-866-635-3748 or through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Bureau of State Hearings.

Raising the CSRA via State Hearing

The CSRA can also be raised above the standard maximum through a State Hearing under federal law at 42 USC 1396r-5(e)(2)(C). The grounds and Ohio's methodology require careful attention.

Federal income-first methodology. Under 42 USC 1396r-5(d)(6) and confirmed by CMS guidance, states use either the income-first methodology or the resource-first methodology when determining whether a raised CSRA is justified. Ohio uses the income-first methodology, which means:

• First, the institutionalized spouse's income is exhausted as CSMIA to bring the community spouse up to the MMMNA
• Second, only if the institutionalized spouse's income is insufficient to meet the MMMNA can additional resources be retained by the community spouse beyond the standard CSRA

In practical effect, income-first jurisdictions limit raised-CSRA outcomes to cases where the institutionalized spouse has very little income. If the institutionalized spouse has substantial income (which is often the case because that income drives the Miller Trust requirement), there is rarely capacity for raised-CSRA arguments.

When raised CSRA is most likely to succeed in Ohio:

• The institutionalized spouse has low income (Social Security only, no pension, no significant retirement distributions)
• The community spouse has documentable need for additional income-producing resources beyond the standard maximum CSRA
• The couple has resources in income-producing form (annuities, investment accounts) and the community spouse can demonstrate why those particular assets must be preserved for their income

Process:

• File a State Hearing request within 90 days of the resource assessment or eligibility decision
• Submit comprehensive financial documentation
• Engage an elder-law attorney; the math is complex and the burden of proof is on the community spouse

How spousal impoverishment applies to HCBS waivers

A common misconception is that spousal impoverishment rules apply only to nursing facility Medicaid. This was true before 2014, but the Affordable Care Act made spousal impoverishment mandatory for HCBS waiver applicants as well. As of 2026, all four major Ohio HCBS waivers extend full spousal impoverishment protection:

PASSPORT Waiver. Older adults (60+) receiving HCBS in the community while their community spouse remains at home get full CSRA, MMMNA, and CSMIA protection. The PASSPORT case manager coordinates with CDJFS on the resource assessment and ongoing income calculations.

Assisted Living Waiver. Adults 21+ in Medicaid-participating Residential Care Facilities with a community spouse get full protection. Importantly, the institutionalized spouse here is also paying room and board out of post-eligibility income, so the CSMIA reduces income available for room and board, often shifting the room and board burden onto the community spouse's retained resources.

Ohio Home Care Waiver. Adults 18-59 with qualifying disability receiving HCBS in the community with a community spouse get full protection. Because OHCW participants are typically younger, the community spouse may be working and earning income, which can substantially reduce or eliminate the CSMIA.

MyCare Ohio Waiver. Dual eligibles whose HCBS services are delivered through MyCare under OAC 5160-58-04 still get full spousal impoverishment protection. The MyCare carrier coordinator works with the family on the income and resource picture, but the calculations follow the underlying spousal impoverishment rules, not MyCare-specific rules.

Family member allowances under 42 USC 1396r-5(d)(1)(C) can also apply when the community spouse has dependent children, dependent parents, or dependent siblings living in the household. The family member allowance is in addition to the MMMNA and can raise the total income reserved for the household.

How spousal impoverishment interacts with the Miller Trust

When the institutionalized spouse's income exceeds the 2026 Special Income Limit of $2,982, they need a Miller Trust in addition to spousal impoverishment planning. The two operate together.

Sequence of operations each month:

1. Institutionalized spouse's qualifying income (Social Security, pension, RMDs) is deposited into the Miller Trust account
2. Trustee distributes from the trust per the federally-mandated waterfall
3. PNA paid to institutionalized spouse for personal use (NF: $75; HCBS waiver: higher community-living amount)
4. Medicare and supplemental insurance premiums paid
5. CSMIA paid to community spouse to bring them up to the applicable MMMNA
6. Allowable medical expenses (rare)
7. Remaining trust balance paid as patient liability to NF (or as waiver income contribution)

The CSMIA is integral to the Miller Trust distribution waterfall when both apply. The trustee must execute both the CSMIA distribution and the patient liability distribution each month and document them in the trust account records.

What spousal impoverishment does NOT do

Spousal impoverishment provides specific resource and income protections but does not solve every problem married couples face under Ohio LTC Medicaid. Some common misunderstandings:

It does not eliminate the 60-month lookback. Transfers within the 60 months before application are scrutinized regardless of which spouse made the transfer. Penalty periods can apply to either spouse. See OAC 5160:1-6-06.5.

It does not protect the home from estate recovery automatically. The community spouse's continued residence in the home protects the home from probate estate recovery while alive, but ultimately the home may be subject to recovery after the community spouse's death depending on title structure and the recovery rules at Ohio Revised Code 5162.21. See /medicaid/ohio/estate-recovery.

It does not increase the institutionalized spouse's asset limit. The institutionalized spouse still has only the $2,000 individual asset limit for Medicaid eligibility. The CSRA shelters the community spouse's portion; it does not let the institutionalized spouse retain extra assets.

It does not address out-of-state assets owned solely by the community spouse. Generally, only assets actually titled to the community spouse alone and unrelated to the marriage may sit outside the resource assessment, but Ohio applies broad "available to either spouse" rules. Sophisticated planning is required for out-of-state real estate, business interests, and similar assets.

It does not protect against improper transfer penalties. If the couple transferred assets to children or third parties within the 60-month lookback to "preserve" them for the community spouse, the penalty rules still apply. Asset preservation must use legitimate methods (exempt asset conversion, annuity purchase, specific irrevocable trust structures, promissory notes meeting OAC requirements).

Common math mistakes in Ohio spousal impoverishment

CDJFS caseworkers, MyCare carriers, AAA case managers, and family members all make recurring errors in spousal impoverishment math. Some of the most common:

Counting only assets in the institutionalized spouse's name. All marital assets and all assets either spouse can access are part of the resource assessment, regardless of titling. A spouse who has tried to "protect" assets by retitling them in their name alone within the lookback period gets no benefit; the asset is still counted and the transfer may trigger a penalty.

Forgetting the snapshot date freezes the assessment. Spend-down or asset acquisition after the snapshot date does not change the CSRA. Many families assume that spending on care costs will reduce the resource picture and that Medicaid will reassess; it does not work that way for the CSRA.

Confusing the half-rule with the maximum. The community spouse always gets the greater of (a) the minimum $32,532, (b) one-half of countable resources, or (c) a court-ordered higher amount, capped at the maximum $162,660. If half of countable resources is $50,000, the CSRA is $50,000, not $162,660 and not $32,532.

Not applying the Excess Shelter Allowance when shelter costs justify it. Many CSMIA calculations use the minimum MMMNA when the community spouse actually qualifies for a higher adjusted MMMNA. The community spouse should document shelter costs and request the ESA calculation explicitly.

Counting community spouse income against the institutionalized spouse. The community spouse's own income belongs to the community spouse and is not added to the institutionalized spouse's available income. Only the institutionalized spouse's income is subject to post-eligibility patient liability calculation.

Missing the family member allowance. Couples with dependent minor children, dependent disabled adult children, or dependent parents living in the household can claim a family member allowance under 42 USC 1396r-5(d)(1)(C) that further raises the income reserved for the household.

Failing to coordinate Miller Trust with CSMIA. When both apply (income above SIL + married applicant), the CSMIA must be distributed from the Miller Trust each month. Trustees who do not understand this can mismanage the trust and cause patient liability calculation errors.

Missing the income-first methodology constraint on raised CSRA. Families pursuing raised-CSRA appeals sometimes do not realize that Ohio's income-first methodology requires the institutionalized spouse's income to be exhausted before additional resources can be retained, sharply limiting when raised CSRA is achievable.

Practical guidance for families

The single most important piece of guidance for couples approaching Ohio LTC Medicaid is: engage an Ohio elder-law attorney early and request an advance resource assessment. The two-to-four-week assessment time and the planning opportunities that an advance assessment unlocks make a substantial difference in financial outcomes.

Other practical guidance:

Document the snapshot date carefully. Hospital admission records, NF admission paperwork, HCBS waiver application receipts, and any other documentation of continuous institutionalization are critical. Preserve all records and provide them to the elder-law attorney and CDJFS.

Inventory all assets thoroughly. Snapshot-date asset inventory should include every account, every property, every brokerage holding, every life insurance policy with cash value, every retirement account, every vehicle, and every other potentially countable asset. Missing an account or undervaluing an asset creates exposure to denials and overpayment recovery later.

Understand the difference between assets and income. The community spouse retains specified assets (CSRA) and specified income (MMMNA and CSMIA). These are separate protections with separate rules. Confusing the two leads to math errors.

Plan for the death of the community spouse. If the community spouse predeceases the institutionalized spouse, the CSRA disappears and any inheritance flowing to the institutionalized spouse can disrupt eligibility. Estate planning for the community spouse (will, beneficiary designations, irrevocable trust structures where appropriate) is essential.

Coordinate with the Miller Trust if income above the SIL. The trust must distribute CSMIA each month. The trustee needs to understand and execute the coordination.

Key statutes, rules, and authorities

• 42 USC 1396r-5 (federal spousal impoverishment, including CSRA, MMMNA, CSMIA, and family member allowance)
• 42 USC 1396p(c)(1) (60-month transfer lookback)
• 42 USC 1396p(d)(4)(B) (Miller Trust, for coordination)
• 42 USC 1396p(f) (home equity exclusion)
• 42 CFR 435.601 (ABD financial methodologies)
• 42 CFR 435.726 (post-eligibility income / patient liability)
• OAC 5160:1-6-04 (Ohio spousal impoverishment implementation)
• OAC 5160:1-6-03.1 (Special Income Limit, for Miller Trust threshold)
• OAC 5160:1-6-03.2 (Qualified Income Trust)
• OAC 5160:1-6-06 (resources, including exempt assets)
• OAC 5160:1-6-06.1 (annuity treatment)
• OAC 5160:1-6-06.5 (transfer penalties)
• OAC 5160:1-6-07 (Personal Needs Allowance and post-eligibility income)
• OAC Chapter 5160-31 (PASSPORT, for waiver application)
• OAC Chapter 5160-33 (Assisted Living Waiver)
• OAC Chapter 5160-46 (Ohio Home Care Waiver)
• OAC Chapter 5160-58 (MyCare Ohio Waiver)
• OAC 5101:6-7-01 (State Hearings procedures, for raised MMMNA and raised CSRA appeals)
• Ohio Revised Code 5162.21 (Medicaid estate recovery, for community-spouse-death scenarios)
• ODM MEPL 194 (2026 FPL Income Guidelines)
• ODM MEPL 191 (2026 COLA / resource limits)
• ODM 2026 Standards Help Sheet (CSRA, MMMNA, Excess Shelter Allowance, Standard Utility Allowance)

This guide reflects Ohio Medicaid policy and federal spousal impoverishment authority in effect as of May 2026. CSRA and MMMNA figures change annually (CSRA and MMMNA maximum on January 1; MMMNA minimum on July 1). Verify current figures with the Ohio Department of Medicaid and engage a qualified Ohio elder-law attorney before structuring assets, applying for Medicaid, or filing appeals related to spousal impoverishment.

Companion guides at /medicaid/ohio, /medicaid/ohio/eligibility-income-limits, /medicaid/ohio/how-to-apply, /medicaid/ohio/miller-trust, /medicaid/ohio/estate-recovery, /medicaid/ohio/personal-needs-allowance, and the waiver-specific deep-dives at /medicaid/ohio/passport-waiver, /medicaid/ohio/assisted-living-waiver, /medicaid/ohio/ohio-home-care-waiver, and /medicaid/ohio/mycare-ohio-waiver provide the operational context that intersects with spousal impoverishment planning.

Find personalized help navigating Ohio spousal impoverishment rules at brevy.com.