Leslie Baughn

Current federal rules let an at-home spouse keep $32.5K to $162.7K in countable assets when the other spouse enters nursing home care.
States set the exact allowance within that range, and the asset snapshot locks in on the resource assessment date when institutional care begins.
A primary home, one vehicle, household goods, and prepaid funeral plans may stay outside the count, while spend-downs can pay debt, repairs, or uncovered care.
Gifting money or transferring property below value can trigger a 5-yr lookback and penalty period, so couples often prioritize approved purchases instead.
A compliant annuity can turn excess savings into monthly income for the at-home spouse, if payments are equal, irrevocable, and repay the state first.

US Nursing Home Spousal Protection Rules

If an MA-PD plan ends and no replacement is chosen, Original Medicare starts January 1 and drug coverage ends; Extra Help members may be reassigned.
Original Medicare brings no annual out-of-pocket cap. In 2026, Part B costs $202.90 monthly, with a $283 deductible and Part A deductible of $1.7K.
An insurer plans to end coverage for ~600K Medicare Advantage members in 2027, making early notice letters a prompt to review replacement options.
Medigap guaranteed-issue rights open 60 days before ending and last 63 days after; drug coverage lapses beyond 63 days can trigger permanent Part D penalties.
Choosing by December 31 keeps January 1 protection; review every prescription, tier, and pharmacy, then pick new Advantage or Original Medicare with Part D.