To apply for Oregon Medicaid, residents use ONE.Oregon.gov, a single portal that handles the Oregon Health Plan application for all coverage types, including long-term care. If your gross monthly income exceeds $2,982, Oregon requires an Income Cap Trust before you can qualify for nursing facility or waiver coverage. This guide walks through each application channel, the Income Cap Trust requirement, the documents you'll need, and what to expect after you submit.
For the most current program details, visit OHA's Oregon Health Plan page.
Before You Apply: Oregon's Income Cap Trust
Oregon is an income-cap state for long-term care Medicaid. That means if your gross monthly income from all sources exceeds $2,982 in 2026, you cannot qualify for nursing facility or HCBS waiver coverage without first establishing an Income Cap Trust.
Oregon calls this an "Income Cap Trust." You may also see it called a Qualified Income Trust or a Miller Trust in other states' materials. The names refer to the same mechanism: a legal trust account into which you deposit, each month, whatever income exceeds the cap. The money in the trust goes toward your cost of care; it doesn't count against your income eligibility. Without the trust in place, the ODHS worker processing your application cannot approve long-term care coverage, no matter how much care you need.
Who needs one. Any applicant whose gross monthly income from all sources (Social Security, pension, retirement distributions, annuity payments) exceeds $2,982 per month. This threshold applies to nursing facility and home- and community-based waiver programs. Community Medicaid for primary and preventive care uses a different, lower income test.
How to set one up. An elder law attorney drafts the trust document and opens a dedicated bank account in the trust's name. Oregon ODHS does not draft trusts on your behalf. Your application can be submitted while the trust is being established, but you must provide documentation of the trust before ODHS can approve long-term care coverage. If you're unsure whether your income triggers the requirement, review the figures with ODHS or an attorney before applying.
See our guide to Medicaid planning strategies for more on how income cap trusts fit into the broader picture.
How to Apply for Oregon Medicaid
Oregon gives you three channels. All three lead to the same eligibility determination by ODHS.
Online at ONE.Oregon.gov
Go to ONE.Oregon.gov and click "Apply for benefits." ONE is Oregon's integrated benefits portal, covering OHP, SNAP, and other state programs from a single application.
You can create an account (recommended) or apply as a guest. An account lets you save progress, upload supporting documents after submission, and check your application status online. Creating one takes about five minutes.
For long-term care applications, the online form will ask about income, assets, living situation, and care needs. Answer accurately. ODHS cross-checks financial data with federal and state databases, and incomplete or inconsistent answers slow the process.
By Phone at 1-800-699-9075
Call 1-800-699-9075 to reach OHA's benefits line. A representative can take your application over the phone, answer questions about the process, and transfer you to ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) if your situation involves long-term care. TTY users can reach the line through Oregon Relay Service at 7-1-1.
Phone applications work well for applicants who need help answering questions or who aren't comfortable with online forms.
In Person at a Local ODHS Office
Visit any local ODHS office. The Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) program within ODHS handles long-term care Medicaid eligibility statewide. Staff can help you complete the application, identify which documents you'll need, and flag whether your income is likely to require an Income Cap Trust.
Find your local office through the ODHS office locator.
Not sure where to start? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com to sort through your options before you apply.
What Documents You'll Need
Gathering paperwork before you apply is the single most effective way to avoid delays. ODHS will request verification for everything it can't confirm through its own data sources.
Identity and citizenship:
- Social Security card or SSA verification letter
- U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization
- Oregon driver's license, state ID, or other government-issued photo ID
- Already enrolled in Medicare? Your Medicare card can serve as citizenship verification.
Income (all sources):
- Social Security award letter or SSA-1099
- Pension or retirement income statements
- Railroad retirement benefit letters
- Annuity income statements
- If still working: last 30 days of pay stubs
Assets:
- Bank statements for all checking and savings accounts (at minimum, the current month)
- For long-term care applications: ODHS typically requests several months of statements and will review recent financial history for the look-back analysis
- Statements for retirement accounts, CDs, stocks, and bonds
- Life insurance policy documents (face value and cash surrender value)
- Vehicle title or registration
Property:
- Property deed and most recent tax assessment for any real estate you own
- Mortgage statement if applicable
Medical and care documentation (for long-term care):
- Physician letter or records documenting the level of care needed
- Current care plan from a facility or home care provider, if available
Income Cap Trust (if applicable):
- Signed trust agreement
- Bank account statement for the trust account
What Happens After You Apply
Acknowledgment. After you submit through ONE.Oregon.gov, you'll receive a confirmation. If you applied by phone or in person, the ODHS worker should give you a reference number.
Document requests. ODHS may contact you to request additional documentation. Check your ONE.Oregon.gov account and your mail regularly. Respond promptly. A missed document request can trigger a denial even if you're otherwise eligible.
Eligibility determination. Oregon must decide most Medicaid applications within 45 days. Long-term care applications, which require a functional assessment in addition to a financial determination, can take longer. ODHS will schedule a home visit or assessment for applicants seeking nursing facility or home- and community-based waiver coverage.
Functional assessment. For long-term care coverage, an ODHS case manager will conduct a functional assessment to determine whether you meet the nursing-facility level-of-care standard. Both the financial and functional criteria must be met before coverage is approved.
Retroactive coverage. Oregon Medicaid can pay retroactively for up to three months of covered services that occurred before the month you applied, if you were eligible during that period. Ask the ODHS worker about retroactive coverage when your application is approved.
Appeals: If You're Denied
Oregon gives you the right to request a hearing if your application is denied or if you disagree with the terms of any approval. The denial notice will state the reason and the deadline to appeal, which is typically 90 days from the date of the notice.
Request a hearing by contacting the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) through the information on your denial notice, or by calling ODHS. You can represent yourself or bring an advocate or attorney. Legal aid organizations in Oregon offer free help for income-eligible applicants:
- Oregon Law Center serves rural Oregon (1-888-245-7493)
- Legal Aid Services of Oregon serves the rest of the state, including Portland (1-888-610-8764)
Both provide free Medicaid representation for qualifying applicants. You can also contact the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-522-2602 for help understanding the process.
Want help reviewing a denial? Talk to Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com for guidance on next steps.
Estate Recovery
Oregon pursues estate recovery after the death of a Medicaid recipient age 55 or older who received long-term care services. The state may file a claim against the estate for the cost of services paid. Federal exceptions apply (surviving spouse, minor child, adult disabled child), and Oregon offers an undue-hardship waiver process. See our guide to Medicaid estate recovery for a detailed breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you establish an Income Cap Trust first. Oregon is an income-cap state, meaning applicants with gross monthly income above $2,982 cannot qualify for nursing facility or HCBS waiver coverage without one. The trust channels excess income toward the cost of care each month and removes it from the income calculation. An elder law attorney sets it up.
OHP is Oregon's overall Medicaid program, covering primary care, hospital services, prescriptions, and more for eligible Oregonians. Long-term care Medicaid is a subset: it covers nursing facility care and home- and community-based services for people who meet both a financial eligibility test and a functional level-of-care assessment. The financial rules are stricter for long-term care, and the application involves both OHA and ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities.
Oregon must process most Medicaid applications within 45 days. Long-term care applications take longer because they require a functional assessment in addition to the financial review. Having all documents ready when you apply is the most effective way to reduce delays.
The primary home (up to $752,000 in equity if you are single and your spouse does not live there), one vehicle, household goods, personal effects, and a prepaid burial arrangement are generally exempt. A spouse who remains in the community may keep half the couple's countable assets up to $162,660 (the 2026 federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance maximum).
Yes. A family member, legal guardian, or person with power of attorney can complete and submit the application. When applying through ONE.Oregon.gov, the authorized representative can create or use their own account and identify themselves as applying on behalf of someone else. Bring documentation of the legal authority (power of attorney documents, guardianship order) to any in-person visit.
Under federal law, Oregon reviews asset transfers made in the 60 months before your application. Gifts, sales below market value, or other uncompensated transfers during that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for long-term care. The penalty length depends on the value of the transferred assets and Oregon's penalty divisor. If you made significant gifts in the past five years, discuss the implications with an elder law attorney before applying.
Learn More
- Oregon Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
- Medicaid Estate Recovery Explained
Find personalized help applying for Oregon 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.