Medicaid Policy
Medicaid Policy
Contact DHHS Policy Specialist for Previous Policy
Aged, Blind Disabled and, Long-term Care
Do not count as an asset, household goods and personal effects that the individual, or the individual’s spouse own.
Household goods are:
Items of personal property, found in or near the home, that the individual uses on a regular basis; and
Items needed by the individual for maintenance, use and occupancy of the premises as a home.
Items that are acquired or held because of their value or as an investment are not household goods.
Personal effects are:
Items of personal property ordinarily worn or carried by the individual; and articles that have a family significance, such as the individual's mother's wedding ring.
For federally recognized tribes, items that have unique religious, spiritual, traditional, or cultural significance to rights that support subsistence or a traditional lifestyle according to applicable tribal law or custom.
Items acquired or held because of their value or as an investment are not personal effects.
Personal Property acquired or held because of value of as an investment
Count as an asset personal property the individual or the individual’s spouse acquires or holds because of its value or as an investment.
Current Market Value (CMV) of Personal Property Owned for its value or as an investment
Use any reliable evidence of CMV that the individual has when the individual alleges or you discover ownership of personal property that is owned for its value or as an investment.
Examples of acceptable evidence are a recent sales slip, an appraisal of the item(s), or value covered under an insurance plan.
If this information is not available, obtain an estimate from a knowledgeable source such as a local merchant.
NOTE: Insurance appraisals and amounts of insurance coverage often reflect replacement value (the amount it would cost to purchase a similar item new) rather than CMV. Do not use replacement value.
Personal Property for Home Use Only
Exclude up to $6,000 of equity value of non-business property that is currently being used to produce goods or services essential to daily activities. The property may be real or personal. Currently being used means that the property is being used at the time of application for the stated purpose. If it is not in current use, there must be a reasonable expectation that use will resume within 12 months of when it was last used to produce goods or services essential to daily activities. A 12-month extension to this limit can be allowed if the property is not in current use because the individual has a disabling condition and the individual expects to resume use of the property for the stated purpose by the end of the extension. Count all equity value over $6000 as an available resource. Examples of property for home use include:
Property used to grow produce or livestock soley for personal consumption in the individual's household; or
Property used to perform activities essential to the production of food solely for home consumption.
This property exclusion can include vehicles used in non-business support activities such as a garden tractor, etc. This exclusion does not apply to any car, truck or motorcycle that either does qualify or could qualify for the vehicle exclusion in 521-4. The vehicle must be used for the stated purpose and meet the "current use" criteria described above.
Medically Needy Family, Child and Pregnant Woman
Exclude the contents of a home that are essential to daily living. However, the individual items with a value over $1,000 must be counted against the asset limit, except for items that are needed by a household member due to the household member's physical or medical condition. Also, exclude one wedding ring and one engagement ring regardless of value.