Married applicants have two major protections
For a married couple with one spouse applying, the community spouse generally keeps one-half of countable joint assets within the Community Spouse Resource Allowance floor and ceiling. Ohio's 2026 CSRA is at least $32,532 and no more than $162,660 (ODM MEPL No. 191).
The published 2026 MMMNA minimum is $2,643.75 for January 1 through June 30, while CMS lists $2,705.00 effective July 1, 2026; both periods share a $4,066.50 maximum. Treat these as sequential mid-year figures, and verify the current calculation for an active case (ODM 2026 Medicaid Standards Help Sheet; CMS 2026 bulletin).
2026 spouse figures: CSRA $32,532–$162,660; MMMNA minimum $2,643.75 through June 30 and $2,705.00 from July 1; maximum MMMNA $4,066.50. Date-specific confirmation matters (
ODM MEPL No. 191;
CMS bulletin).
Income can require a Qualified Income Trust
Ohio uses an income-cap, or Special Income Level, model for institutional and waiver Medicaid. The 2026 individual SIL is $2,982 per month, and Ohio's rules provide for Qualified Income Trusts when income is above the applicable limit (ODM 2026 Medicaid Standards Help Sheet; Ohio Administrative Code income rules).
A resource review, income test, home-equity limit, and spousal allowances are distinct parts of one eligibility analysis. Do not assume that being under the $2,000 resource limit answers the income or home questions (ODM standards).
Use a dated Ohio analysis
Ohio's figures can change through annual and mid-year updates, as the 2026 MMMNA materials show. Confirm the currently effective ODM standards before acting on a transfer, trust, purchase, or application (ODM MEPL No. 191).
Compare Florida's Medicaid asset limits for a different state application. For the national baseline, visit Medicaid (Baseline).
Not mutually exclusive. Most families combine two or three funding pillars — this one rarely stands alone.
The
Journey Assessment ranks all ten pillars against your specific situation and
recommends the top three.
