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Medicaid Planning · Illinois

Illinois Long-term-care Medicaid eligibility

Long-term-care Medicaid eligibility rules for Illinois.

Published: Not yet published. Last checked: September 5, 2026.

Income limits

Institutional income treatment

No universal institutional income cap; medically needy spenddown and post-eligibility contribution rules apply.

Applies to the applicant under the medically needy pathway for institutional long-term-care eligibility and post-eligibility treatment. This is an allowance. Details: applicant whose income exceeds the applicable eligibility standard.

Source: 89 Illinois Administrative Code 120.61 [state-legislature] — Amended effective July 23, 2025

Asset limits

AABD medically needy resource limit

$17,500

Applies to the applicant under the medically needy pathway for aged, blind, or disabled medical assistance. This is a cap. Details: single applicant.

Source: 89 Illinois Administrative Code 120.382 [state-legislature] — Amended effective September 21, 2023

Community spouse resource allowance (CSRA)

Maximum community-spouse resource allowance

$143,172

Applies to the community spouse under the spousal impoverishment pathway for long-term-care services. This is a maximum. Details: institutionalized applicant with a community spouse.

Source: Illinois HFS Provider Notice: 2026 spousal-impoverishment standards [state-medicaid-agency] — Effective January 1, 2026; issued January 22, 2026

Monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA)

Base monthly maintenance-needs allowance

The cited rule does not apply.

Applies to the community spouse under the spousal impoverishment pathway for long-term-care services. This is a minimum. Details: Illinois uses its published maximum rather than a separate base allowance.

Source: Illinois HFS Provider Notice: 2026 spousal-impoverishment standards [state-medicaid-agency] — Effective January 1, 2026; issued January 22, 2026

Maximum monthly maintenance-needs allowance

$4,066.50

Applies to the community spouse under the spousal impoverishment pathway for long-term-care services. This is a maximum. Details: institutionalized applicant with a community spouse.

Source: Illinois HFS Provider Notice: 2026 spousal-impoverishment standards [state-medicaid-agency] — Effective January 1, 2026; issued January 22, 2026

Home-equity limits

Home-equity limit

$752,000

Applies to the applicant under the institutional long-term care pathway for long-term-care services. This is a cap. Details: applicant subject to Illinois's federal-minimum election.

Source: 305 ILCS 5/3-1.2(e) [state-legislature] — Current Illinois Compiled Statutes; federal minimum home-equity standard incorporated by reference Additional authority: CMS 2026 SSI and January spousal-impoverishment standards [cms] — SSI, resource, and home-equity standards effective January 1, 2026

Sources

Methodology & sources

Checked at least annually and whenever the state or CMS publishes new long-term-care eligibility figures.

General information, not legal advice.