Texas Medicaid Income Limits 2025: What is the highest salary to qualify for the program?

Agency_LATINWEB Jorge Guevara - LW English Medicaid - English Sports Texas - English US News

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Each year, the eligibility rules forTexas Medicaid get a few updates-often small, but with big implications for seniors and their families. Whether you’re helping a parent plan for long-term care or preparing for your own future, understanding where the lines are drawn in 2025 can make all the difference.

Texas Medicaid covers more than just nursing homes. Through programs like STAR+PLUS and Community First Choice, it also helps seniors live independently by covering personal care, home modifications, adult foster care, and more. But the first question most people ask is: How much can you earn and still qualify?

New in 2025: Income and asset limits have increased

This year, the maximum monthly income to qualify for Nursing Home Medicaid or Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) is $2,901 for a single applicant. Married couples applying together can have up to $5,802 in combined income. The asset limit remains tight: $2,000 for singles, and $3,000 for couples.

When only one spouse applies, the rules shift slightly. The non-applicant spouse is allowed to keep up to $157,920 in assets-known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance-without affecting the applicant’s eligibility.

For Regular Medicaid (non-nursing home), the income caps are lower: $967 per month for singles and $1,450 for couples. These applicants typically qualify if they also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Planning around the limits

Not everyone who needs care will fall under these limits. Fortunately, there are workarounds-legal and strategic ones. Qualified Income Trusts (also known as Miller Trusts) allow applicants to redirect excess income into a trust that doesn’t count against their eligibility. Meanwhile, “spending down” excess assets on approved expenses-like home improvements or prepaid burial plans-can help reduce countable assets.

Just be careful: Texas enforces a five-year Medicaid “look-back” period to catch improper asset transfers. Gifts and under-market-value sales within that timeframe can lead to penalties.

What about the house?

Good news for homeowners: your primary residence is generally exempt-as long as you or your spouse live in it. If not, the home must have an equity value below $730,000 and you must express intent to return. But even exempt homes can be subject to estate recovery after the Medicaid recipient’s death, potentially reducing inheritance.

Texas Medicaid is a lifeline for thousands of seniors, but understanding the updated numbers for 2025 is crucial to making informed decisions. If you’re unsure whether you or a loved one qualifies, resources like the American Council on Aging’s Eligibility Test or a certified Medicaid planner can provide clarity.

As with any system, the details matter. And in the case of long-term care, knowing those details early could mean the difference between access to essential services-or a long wait without them.

This news was originally published on this post .

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Agency_LATINWEB Jorge Guevara - LW English Medicaid - English Texas - English US News

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