New Hampshire Medicaid & Elder Care
New Hampshire's senior Medicaid landscape offers a Medically Needy Pathway for income over the cap and the Choices for Independence Waiver provides home and community-based support, though enrollment capacity can be a factor.
Medicaid Report Card
Overall State Performance Index
Based on CMS Nursing Home Compare + state Medicaid agency data
View Methodology arrow_forwardNew Hampshire Monthly Costs
New Hampshire senior care costs are typically higher than the national average, with assisted living averaging approximately $6,053 per month compared to the national average of $4,591.
Waiver Programs
Choices for Independence Waiver
Also called: Home and Community-Based Care Program for the Elderly and Chronically Ill Waiver
The Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver is a statewide Medicaid program for seniors and adults with disabilities who require a Nursing Facility Level of Care but wish to remain in their homes or communities. It provides various long-term services and supports to prevent institutionalization, including care in a loved one's home, adult family homes, or residential care facilities.
- check_circle Adult Day Health Care
- check_circle Adult In-Home Care
- check_circle Adult Family Care
- check_circle Case Management
- check_circle Community Transition Assistance
- check_circle Environmental Accessibility for Homes and Vehicles
- check_circle Home Delivered Meals
- check_circle Home Health Services
- check_circle Homemaker Services
- check_circle Non-Medical Transportation
- check_circle Personal Care Assistance
- check_circle Skilled Nursing
- check_circle Personal Emergency Response Systems
- check_circle Respite Care
insights Program Snapshot
- Authorized slots
- Approximately 5,951 beneficiaries per year
- Functional criterion
- Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC)
- Administered by
- NH DHHS, Bureau of Adult & Aging Services (BAAS)
- Recertification
- Annual
2026 Eligibility Requirements
| Criteria | Individual Limit | Married (Both Applying) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Income | $2,982 | $5,964 |
| Asset Limit | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Home Equity Limit | $752,000 | |
| Level of Care | Nursing Home Level of Care (NHLOC) | |
New Hampshire has no hard income cap: applicants whose income exceeds the $2,982 limit can qualify through the Medically Needy Pathway if their net income is below the rate Medicaid pays the nursing facility.
New Hampshire's base limit is $2,500, but since 2024 a disregard raises the effective limit to $7,500 for nursing-home and home-care (CFI/HCBS) applicants. The $7,500 is per household, not per person.
verifiedChecked against New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 2026 standards on November 11, 2026.
Estate Recovery Warning
New Hampshire's Estate Recovery Program is aggressive, seeking reimbursement for long-term care costs after the recipient's death. This may involve placing a lien on the home, though recovery is delayed for surviving spouses and exemptions exist for disabled children.
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 prior to application can trigger a penalty period of ineligibility.
- warning Excess Income: Failing to utilize the Medically Needy Pathway if monthly income exceeds the $2,982 limit.
- warning Joint Accounts: The full balance of joint accounts created on or after November 1, 1995, is often counted as the applicant's asset unless proven otherwise.
First Steps for Families
Locate your ADRC
Contact your local New Hampshire 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 $7,500.
Resource Contact
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
How to Apply for New Hampshire Long-Term Care Medicaid
Assess Level of Care
Undergo a Medical Eligibility Assessment (MEA) by a registered nurse from the Bureau of Adult & Aging Services (BAAS) to determine Nursing Facility Level of Care.
Gather Records
Collect at least 60 months of financial statements, including bank accounts, investments, and income proofs, for the look-back period.
Utilize Medically Needy Pathway
If your income exceeds the Medicaid limit, you may use the Medically Needy Pathway to 'spend down' your excess income on medical expenses to qualify.
Submit Application
Apply for long-term care Medicaid online through NH EASY, by mail using Form 800, by phone at 1-844-ASK-DHHS, or in person at a DHHS District Office.
Attend Interviews
Participate in a Bureau of Family Assistance (BFA) interview and the Medical Eligibility Assessment (MEA) with a BAAS nurse.
Approval & Care
Receive a decision within 45 days; if approved, benefits will activate.
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 disability status
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified immigration status
Property/Residency
- Home deed
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of New Hampshire residency
Frequently Asked Questions About New Hampshire Medicaid
Does New Hampshire Medicaid pay for assisted living?
New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver can cover services provided in residential care facilities, which include assisted living. However, the waiver specifically pays for the services and supports, not for the room and board costs associated with living in an assisted living facility.
What is the New Hampshire Medicaid income limit for seniors in 2026?
For a single senior applying for Nursing Home Medicaid or HCBS Waivers in New Hampshire in 2026, the categorically needy income limit is $2,982 per month. For married couples where both spouses are applying, each is tested against $2,982 ($5,964 combined). This is not a hard cap: New Hampshire's Medically Needy Pathway covers those whose income exceeds these limits, as long as net income is below the rate Medicaid pays the nursing facility.
How long is the HCBS waiver waitlist in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver is not an entitlement program, meaning there may be a waitlist for participation when enrollment slots are full. While no specific waitlist count or average wait time for 2026 has been published, access to a participant slot is generally thought to be based on the application date.
Will Medicaid take my parent's house in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire Medicaid generally considers the primary home an exempt asset for eligibility purposes, especially if a spouse or dependent lives there. However, after the Medicaid recipient's death, the state's Estate Recovery Program may seek reimbursement for long-term care costs by placing a lien on the home. Recovery is typically delayed if a surviving spouse resides in the home, and exemptions exist for permanently disabled children.
Can I be paid to care for my parent through New Hampshire Medicaid?
Yes, New Hampshire's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver offers a degree of consumer-direction, or self-direction, for many of its services. This option allows eligible participants to choose some of their care providers, including hiring a friend or a relative, such as an adult child or spouse, to provide personal care. A financial management services agency handles the associated employment responsibilities.
Medicaid vs Medicare for long-term care in New Hampshire?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for those 65 and older, covering acute medical care and limited skilled nursing facility stays, but generally not long-term custodial care. Medicaid, administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, is a needs-based program for low-income individuals that can cover extensive long-term care services, including nursing home care and home and community-based services through programs like the Choices for Independence Waiver. Many seniors may be 'dual eligible' for both.
TOPICAL GUIDES — HOW MEDICAID WORKS
EXPLORE NEW HAMPSHIRE
Last updated: November 12, 2026. Sources: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human 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.