When one spouse enters a nursing home and the other remains living at home, the at-home spouse, called the “community spouse”, faces a frightening question: will Medicaid require us to spend everything we have before my husband or wife can qualify?
The answer is no. Ohio law provides specific protections for the community spouse through the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA).
What Is the CSRA?
The Community Spouse Resource Allowance is the amount of the couple’s total countable assets that the community spouse is permitted to keep when the other spouse applies for Nursing Home Medicaid. It is designed to ensure that the at-home spouse is not impoverished by the cost of their partner’s care.
In 2026, the CSRA in Ohio allows the community spouse to retain up to $162,660 in countable assets. Ohio calculates this by looking at 50% of the couple’s combined countable assets at the time of the applicant spouse’s institutionalization, subject to a floor of $32,532 and a ceiling of $162,660.
What Assets Count?
Medicaid considers nearly all financial assets to be countable, including bank accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and some retirement accounts. Both spouses’ assets are considered jointly owned regardless of whose name is on the account.
However, several important assets are exempt from the CSRA calculation. These typically include the couple’s primary home, one vehicle, personal belongings, household furnishings, irrevocable burial arrangements, and some retirement accounts (see https://toronlaw.com/will-the-nursing-home-take-my-ira/).
The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance
In addition to keeping assets, the community spouse may also be entitled to a portion of the nursing home spouse’s income. This is called the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA).
In 2026, the MMMNA cap in Ohio is $4,066.50 per month. If the community spouse’s own income falls below this amount, they may be entitled to receive some of the nursing home spouse’s income to make up the difference.
Can You Increase the Amount You Keep?
In some cases, yes. There are legal strategies that can shift assets from countable to exempt status — effectively increasing the amount the community spouse retains. Medicaid-compliant annuities, for example, can convert a lump sum of countable assets into a stream of income for the community spouse, removing those assets from Medicaid’s count.
These strategies must be implemented carefully and in compliance with both federal and Ohio law.
Don’t Navigate This Alone
The rules governing community spouse protections are complex, and the stakes are high. Making the wrong financial move can disqualify your spouse from Medicaid — while failing to act can leave you unnecessarily impoverished.
Call The Toron Law Firm at (513) 563-3007 for a free consultation.
