Connecticut Medicaid & Elder Care
Connecticut's senior Medicaid landscape, known as HUSKY Health, offers critical long-term care support through its Home Care Program for Elders, despite strict financial limits and high care costs.
Medicaid Report Card
Overall State Performance Index
Based on CMS Nursing Home Compare + state Medicaid agency data
View Methodology arrow_forwardConnecticut Monthly Costs
Connecticut's long-term care costs are higher than the national average, most of all for nursing homes: a semi-private room averages $15,508 a month, about 40% above the $11,040 national average, based on 2024 data.
Waiver Programs
Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders
Also called: CHCPE, Medicaid Waiver Home Care Program (Category 3)
The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) serves individuals aged 65 and older who are at risk of institutionalization or require a nursing home level of care. This Medicaid waiver provides a range of home and community-based services, including support in assisted living settings, as an alternative to nursing home placement.
- check_circle Homemaker
- check_circle Companion
- check_circle Personal Emergency Response System
- check_circle Meals on Wheels
- check_circle Adult Day Care
- check_circle Chore Services
- check_circle Mental Health Counseling
- check_circle Assisted Living Services
- check_circle Personal Care Attendant
- check_circle Assistive Technology
- check_circle Adult Family Living
- check_circle Care Management
- check_circle Minor Home Modifications
- check_circle Respite Care
insights Program Snapshot
- Functional criterion
- Nursing Home Level of Care
- Administered by
- Connecticut Department of Social Services
- Self-direction
- Yes, through Adult Family Living and Community First Choice
- Target Population
- Elders (65 years of age and older)
2026 Eligibility Requirements
| Criteria | Individual Limit | Married (Both Applying) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Income | No hard cap for nursing-home care. Income above the personal needs allowance goes toward the cost of care (spend-down). | |
| Asset Limit | $1,600 | $3,200* |
| Home Equity Limit | $1,130,000 | |
| Level of Care | Nursing Home Level of Care (NHLOC) | |
Connecticut has no hard income cap for nursing-home care: applicants over $2,982 a month qualify as medically needy by spending their excess income down on the cost of care. The $2,982 figure is the income limit for the Home Care Program for Elders waiver.
verifiedChecked against Connecticut Department of Social Services 2026 standards on November 11, 2026. * The state does not publish this figure directly; confirm it with the agency.
Estate Recovery Warning
Connecticut's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) is aggressive, seeking reimbursement for long-term care costs from the deceased recipient's estate. This often involves placing a lien on the home, though protections exist for surviving spouses and disabled children.
Spend-Down & Asset Protection
PROTECTED ASSETS
COMMON PITFALLS
- warning Look-back Period: Gifts or asset transfers made within 60 months of applying can trigger a penalty period of Medicaid ineligibility.
- warning Excess Income: Income over the limit does not disqualify a nursing-home applicant, but the excess must go toward the cost of care each month under the medically needy spend-down; not planning for it can delay eligibility.
- warning Joint Accounts: The full balance of joint bank accounts is often counted as the applicant's asset, potentially exceeding asset limits.
First Steps for Families
Locate your ADRC
Contact your local Connecticut Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Gather 5 years of records
Bank statements, deeds, asset transfers for the Medicaid look-back period.
Financial assessment
Consult a Medicaid planner if assets exceed $1,600.
Resource Contact
Connecticut Department of Social Services
How to Apply for Connecticut Long-Term Care Medicaid
Assess Level of Care
Obtain medical certification demonstrating the need for a Nursing Home Level of Care.
Gather Records
Collect at least 60 months of financial statements and other necessary documentation.
Plan for Excess Income
If monthly income is over $2,982, expect to qualify for nursing-home care through the medically needy spend-down, with income above the limit going toward the cost of care. No Miller Trust is needed.
Submit Application
Apply through the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) either online or at a local office.
Attend Interviews
Participate in required caseworker evaluations and provide any additional requested information.
Receive Determination & Care
Await the final eligibility determination and activation of Medicaid benefits for long-term care services.
Documents You'll Need
Financial Verification
- 5 years of bank statements
- Stock/bond certificates
- Retirement account information
- Proof of all assets
Income Verification
- Social Security award letters
- Pension stubs
- VA benefit statements
- Other income sources
Medical/Identity
- Social Security card
- Medicare card
- Doctor's clinical assessments
- Proof of age and identity
Property/Residency
- Home deed
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of Connecticut residency
- Utility bills
Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut Medicaid
Does Connecticut Medicaid pay for assisted living?
Connecticut Medicaid, through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), provides coverage for assisted living services in specific state-funded elderly congregate housing sites and federally-subsidized housing programs. There is also a limited pilot program for private assisted living facilities. However, federal law prohibits Medicaid from covering room and board costs in these settings.
What is the Connecticut Medicaid income limit for seniors in 2026?
Connecticut has no hard income cap for nursing-home Medicaid in 2026. Applicants with income over $2,982 a month qualify as medically needy by spending the excess down on the cost of their care, so no Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) is needed. The $2,982 figure is the income limit for the Home Care Program for Elders waiver; for married couples where both spouses apply for the waiver, each spouse is tested against $2,982 ($5,964 combined).
How long is the HCBS waiver waitlist in Connecticut?
While Connecticut's Nursing Home Medicaid is an entitlement with no waitlist, Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, such as the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), can have waitlists. These waitlists occur when program enrollment and funding limits are reached. Specific waitlist counts or estimated wait times are not consistently published by the state, making the exact severity of the waitlist unknown.
Will Medicaid take my parent's house in Connecticut?
While your parent is alive and residing in their primary home, it is generally considered an exempt asset for Medicaid eligibility purposes, provided the home equity is below $1,130,000. However, after the Medicaid recipient's death, Connecticut's Estate Recovery Program can place a lien on the home to recover the costs of long-term care paid by Medicaid. This recovery may be delayed if a surviving spouse or a permanently blind or disabled child continues to live in the home.
Can I be paid to care for my parent through Connecticut Medicaid?
Yes, Connecticut Medicaid offers programs that allow family members to be compensated for providing care to their elderly parents. The Adult Family Living (AFL) program, which is part of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), enables eligible family members or close friends to receive a tax-free stipend for providing daily assistance to seniors in their home. Caregivers in this program can earn up to $2,400 per month, with the amount based on the senior's assessed level of need.
Medicaid vs Medicare for long-term care in Connecticut?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for individuals aged 65 and older, but it generally does not cover long-term custodial care, such as assistance with daily activities. In contrast, Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY Health) is a joint state-federal program for low-income individuals that *does* cover long-term care. This includes comprehensive nursing home care and various home and community-based services through waivers like the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), provided financial and functional eligibility criteria are met.
TOPICAL GUIDES — HOW MEDICAID WORKS
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Last updated: November 12, 2026. Sources: Connecticut Department of Social Services, CMS Nursing Home Compare, Genworth 2024 Cost of Care Survey. Eligibility rules are set by each state Medicaid agency and update annually. We cite the agency name, statute, or CMS data source for every figure on this page; see our methodology and editor.