Florida Medicaid & Elder Care
Florida's senior Medicaid landscape centers on the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program, offering home and community-based services and assisted living support, often requiring a Qualified Income Trust for those over income limits.
Medicaid Report Card
Overall State Performance Index
Based on CMS Nursing Home Compare + state Medicaid agency data
View Methodology arrow_forwardFlorida Monthly Costs
Florida's assisted living costs are generally lower than the national average, with a projected median of $5,484 monthly in 2026 compared to the national median of $6,129. However, nursing home costs in Florida can be higher than the national median, while home care services may be lower.
Waiver Programs
Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program
Also called: Medicaid Waiver, Nursing Home Diversion Program
The SMMC LTC Program provides home and community-based services, assisted living, and nursing home assistance to functionally impaired seniors and disabled adults at risk of nursing home placement. Services are delivered through managed care organizations, helping individuals remain in their homes or assisted living facilities.
- check_circle Adult Companion Care
- check_circle Adult Day Health Care
- check_circle Assistive Care
- check_circle Assisted Living Facility Services
- check_circle Attendant Nursing Care
- check_circle Behavioral Management
- check_circle Caregiver Training
- check_circle Case Management
- check_circle Home Accessibility Adaptation
- check_circle Home Delivered Meals
- check_circle Homemaker
- check_circle Hospice
- check_circle Intermittent and Skilled Nursing
- check_circle Medical Equipment & Supplies
- check_circle Medication Administration
- check_circle Medication Management
- check_circle Nutritional Assessment/Risk Reduction
- check_circle Nursing Facility Care
- check_circle Occupational Therapy
- check_circle Personal Care
- check_circle Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
- check_circle Respite Care
- check_circle Physical Therapy
- check_circle Respiratory Therapy
- check_circle Speech Therapy
- check_circle Transportation to LTC Services
insights Program Snapshot
- Functional criterion
- Nursing Home Level of Care
- Administered by
- Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)
- Self-direction
- Yes, for some services, including hiring family members
- Population served
- Seniors (65+) and disabled adults (18+)
2026 Eligibility Requirements
| Criteria | Individual Limit | Married (Both Applying) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Income | $2,982 | $5,964 |
| Asset Limit | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Home Equity Limit | $752,000 | |
| Level of Care | Nursing Home Level of Care (NHLOC) | |
Estate Recovery Warning
Florida's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program is federally mandated to recoup costs for services provided to recipients aged 55 and older from their probate estate after death. Recovery is delayed if a surviving spouse or dependent child resides in the home, and it is limited to probatable assets.
Spend-Down & Asset Protection
PROTECTED ASSETS
COMMON PITFALLS
- warning Look-back Period: Gifts or asset transfers for less than fair market value within 60 months trigger heavy penalties.
- warning Excess Income: Failing to establish a Miller Trust if monthly income exceeds the cap for long-term care Medicaid.
- warning Joint Accounts: The full balance of joint bank accounts is often counted as the applicant's asset.
First Steps for Families
Locate your ADRC
Contact your local Florida 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 $2,000.
Resource Contact
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
How to Apply for Florida Long-Term Care Medicaid
Contact ADRC for Screening
Contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or the Elder Helpline (1-800-963-5337) for an initial over-the-phone screening to determine priority and waitlist placement.
Submit Medical Certification
Submit Form 5000-3008, the Medical Certification for Medicaid Long-Term Care Services.
Apply for Financial Eligibility
Submit a Medicaid application through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) ACCESS Florida for financial eligibility determination.
Complete CARES Assessment
Undergo a 701B Assessment with the Department of Elder Affairs' CARES Program to determine the functional level of care needed.
Select Managed Care Plan
If approved, select a Long-Term Care Managed Care Plan from the available options in your region.
Documents You'll Need
Financial Verification
- 60 months of bank statements
- Stock/bond certificates
- Retirement account information
- Proof of all income sources
Income Verification
- Social Security award letters
- Pension stubs
- VA benefit statements
- Other income documentation
Medical/Identity
- Social Security card
- Medicare card
- Doctor's clinical assessments (Form 5000-3008)
- CARES assessment results
- Proof of age
Property/Residency
- Home deed
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of Florida residency
- Utility bills
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Medicaid
Does Florida Medicaid pay for assisted living?
Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program can help cover care services in an assisted living facility, but it does not cover room and board costs. Availability of these benefits can be limited, and there is often a lengthy waitlist for community-based services.
What is the Florida Medicaid income limit for seniors in 2026?
For long-term care Medicaid in Florida, the individual income limit for seniors in 2026 is $2,982 per month. Florida is an 'income cap' state, meaning individuals whose income exceeds this amount may still qualify by establishing a Qualified Income Trust, also known as a Miller Trust.
How long is the HCBS waiver waitlist in Florida?
Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program, which replaced former Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, has a lengthy waitlist for community-based services. While specific numbers are not published, wait times can extend for years, with priority given to the sickest applicants.
Will Medicaid take my parent's house in Florida?
Florida's Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) may seek reimbursement from a deceased recipient's probate estate for care costs after age 55. However, the primary residence is generally protected from recovery if a surviving spouse, minor child, or disabled child lives there. MERP is limited to assets that pass through probate.
Can I be paid to care for my parent through Florida Medicaid?
Yes, through the consumer-directed option within Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program, eligible family members, including adult children and spouses, can be hired and compensated as caregivers. This option allows participants to choose and manage their care providers for certain services like personal care and homemaker services.
Medicaid vs Medicare for long-term care in Florida?
Medicare primarily covers short-term, skilled medical care and generally does not pay for long-term custodial care in assisted living or nursing homes. Florida Medicaid, specifically the SMMC LTC program, covers a broad range of long-term care services, including nursing home care and home and community-based services, for eligible low-income seniors.
TOPICAL GUIDES — HOW MEDICAID WORKS
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Last updated: April 24, 2026. Sources: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, 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.