Nursing Home Resident’s Spouse Entitled to Bigger MMMNA Effective July 1

The MMMNA is Florida Medicaid’s standard for spousal impoverishment – in other words, the minimum income the spouse who is not in a nursing home requires for support and maintenance.  The federal poverty level is the basis for the calculation. MMMNA is updated when the poverty level is updated.

Effective July 1, 2026 and through June 30, 2027, the MMMNA is set at $2,705 (up from $2,643.75).

Example Of How MMMNA Works

If the well spouse’s monthly income falls below the MMMNA, the spouse in the nursing home who is receiving Medicaid benefits shall allow a portion of his/her income to be diverted to the well spouse. The diversion is the amount that is necessary to bring the well spouse’s monthly income up to the MMMNA.

Example: Mr. Jones is living in a nursing home and on Medicaid. Mrs. Jones is the well spouse, living at home. Mr. Jones’ monthly income is $5,000. Mrs. Jones’ monthly income is $2,000, which is $705 below the MMMNA. Therefore, Mr. Jones may divert $705 of his income to his wife each month. Note that Mr. Jones’ income will also be used to pay his supplemental health insurance, and it will also pay $160 for his Personal Needs Allowance. Whatever is left over of Mr. Smith’s monthly income must go to the nursing home.

Special Circumstances

Under certain circumstances, a nursing home resident may divert income that brings the community spouse’s income even higher than the MMMNA. Examples include very high housing expenses or utility expenses.  The maximum MMMNA, effective July 1, 2026 is $4,066.50 (up from $3,948). This amount can be even higher if there is a court order of support for the spouse.

For a full list of eligibility requirements for long-term Medicaid benefits, click here.