Very few assets can be kept by the applicant and their spouse (the community spouse) in order to qualify for long-term care coverage under the Title 19 program. The following are the assets they may keep:
- The primary residence provided the community spouse lives there.
- An irrevocable, pre-paid Funeral Contract up to $5,400 for the applicant and spouse.
- A revocable Funeral Contract to cover burial space items for applicant and spouse.
- A Burial Plot for applicant and spouse.
- Term Life Insurance (Must have no cash value).
- Whole Life Insurance when the Face Value of all policies is less than $1,500.
- One motor vehicle of any value.
The community spouse can keep one-half (1/2) of any and all of the combined assets of the husband and wife on the date of institutionalization (DOI) up to a maximum of $109,560.00 (the spousal share). For example, if you have a total of $120,000.00 of non-exempt assets the community spouse may keep $60,000.00 and the applicant $1,600.00. If you have $300,000.00 of non-exempt assets the community spouse may keep the maximum $109,560.00 and the applicant $1,600.00.