Planning for Medicaid eligibility in Michigan requires understanding how state-specific financial rules are applied. While Medicaid is a federal program, eligibility is administered at the state level, and limits can vary. In Michigan, the MI Dept. of Health & Human Services sets the rules and limits on Medicaid qualification.

Asset Limits
To qualify for long-term care Medicaid in Michigan, applicants must remain under specific asset thresholds:

• Individual applicant asset limit: $2,000
• Spouse asset limit: the greater of $32,532 or 50% of joint assets, capped at $162,660

Assets above these limits may affect eligibility. Certain assets may be excluded or treated differently under state rules.

Lookback Period
Michigan applies a 60 month lookback period when reviewing Medicaid applications. During this time, asset transfers are reviewed to determine whether they impact eligibility. Transfers made during the lookback period may result in a penalty period of Medicaid ineligibility.

Qualification Strategies
There are several different Medicaid Qualification strategies that are used in Michigan:

• Home Equity Increase (within Michigan's allowed limits)
• Qualifying Debt Payoff
• Irrevocable Final Expense Planning

We cover information regarding these strategies and more in our free eBook.