Florida Medicaid can pay for care at home through its Long-Term Care program, officially the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program (SMMC LTC). It helps people who need nursing-home-level care stay at home or in their community instead. The process has several steps, so here they are in order.
Who qualifies
- Age or disability: 65 or older, or 18 or older with a disability
- Care needs: needs the level of care a nursing facility provides, as assessed by the Department of Elder Affairs’ CARES program
- Finances: meets Medicaid’s income and asset limits, decided by the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Income and asset limits in 2026
- Income: up to $2,982 a month for the applicant, which is 300% of the $994 federal SSI rate. Above that, a Qualified Income Trust, also called a Miller trust, can be used to qualify.
- Assets: generally $2,000 for a single applicant. The home, one car and personal belongings usually don’t count.
- Married couples: a spouse who stays at home can keep a larger share of the couple’s assets and income.
- Five-year look-back: gifts and transfers made in the five years before applying are reviewed and can delay eligibility.
These figures change every year. Confirm them with DCF at 1-866-762-2237 or with an elder law attorney before you apply.
What it covers at home
- Personal care, such as bathing and dressing
- Homemaker services and companion care
- Respite care for family caregivers
- Adult day health care and home-delivered meals
- A case manager from your Long-Term Care plan
How to apply, step by step
- Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 (1-800-96-ELDER) and ask your local Aging and Disability Resource Center for a Long-Term Care screening. The phone screening takes about an hour.
- Join the waitlist. The screening gives a priority score. Each month the state releases people based on that score and their frailty, not on how long they’ve waited.
- Get the medical form completed. When you’re released, the resource center mails Form 3008 for your doctor, APRN or PA to complete and return.
- Apply for Medicaid with DCF to confirm financial eligibility.
- Have the CARES assessment. State staff confirm medical eligibility, usually during a visit at home, at no cost.
- Choose a plan and a provider. Once approved, you’ll receive a welcome packet, enroll in a Long-Term Care plan and choose home care providers in its network.
If your loved one’s needs change while you wait, let the Aging and Disability Resource Center know.
While you wait
The waitlist can take time. Many families cover a few hours of help a week with savings, long-term care insurance or VA benefits until Medicaid begins. Read does insurance cover homecare? and homecare for veterans.
Using Medicaid with Sandcastle
Sandcastle accepts Medicaid LTC. If you plan to use Medicaid for care, your inquiry is best handled by speaking directly with our office: call Toll Free (800) 572-0135.
Sources: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Long-Term Care program; Florida Department of Elder Affairs, SMMC Long-Term Care; Social Security Administration, SSI federal payment amounts for 2026. Figures checked October 2026. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.