DC Medicaid · Updated August 22, 2026

District of Columbia Medicaid Asset Limits 2026

Income LimitsEligibilityAsset LimitsHow to ApplyRenewalMedicare Savings ProgramsSeniors & Long-Term Care

District of Columbia applies an asset (resource) test only to seniors, blind and disabled applicants and to long-term care. Adults under 65, children, parents and pregnant women are assessed on income alone, with no limit on savings.

Individual (65+/disabled)$2,000
Couple (65+/disabled)$3,000
Nursing home applicant$2,000
Medicare Savings Programs$9,660individual
SSI-related; most states use SSI limit (~74% FPL) or 100% FPL. CA, AZ and a few others have no asset test

What counts as an asset

  • Checking and savings accounts, cash
  • Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs
  • Retirement accounts (IRA, 401k) in many states, especially if not in payout status
  • Real estate other than your home
  • Second vehicles, boats, RVs
  • Cash value of life insurance above a small face-value threshold

What is exempt

  • Your primary home (equity limit applies for long-term care; federally around $730,000 in 2025, higher in some states)
  • One vehicle
  • Household goods and personal effects
  • Burial plots and prepaid irrevocable funeral contracts
  • Term life insurance
  • Assets in a properly drafted special needs or pooled trust

Spending down assets

If you are over the limit you may pay off debt, make home repairs, prepay funeral costs or buy exempt items. Giving assets away triggers the 60-month look-back for long-term care and can cause a penalty period; see District of Columbia long-term care rules.

Frequently asked questions

Does District of Columbia Medicaid check your bank account?
For seniors and disabled applicants, yes: you must report all accounts and the agency verifies balances. MAGI groups (adults under 65, children, pregnant women) are not asked about assets.
Does my house count toward the District of Columbia Medicaid asset limit?
Your primary residence is exempt as long as you live there or intend to return, subject to a home equity cap for nursing home coverage.
Can I have a car and get Medicaid in District of Columbia?
One vehicle of any value is exempt in most states when used for transportation.
What is the asset limit for a married couple?
$3,000 when both spouses apply. When only one spouse needs nursing home care, the community spouse can keep a much larger protected amount.

Sources

Limits are calculated from the federal poverty guidelines using the percentage District of Columbia applies to each group, and rounded to the nearest dollar. Your state agency makes the final determination.