Washington's Medicaid program is Apple Health, run by the Health Care Authority, with long-term care administered by the DSHS division formerly called Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, now the Home and Community Living Administration. For nursing-facility or waiver coverage in 2026, a parent generally must have countable resources at or below $2,000, per DSHS, and contributes income toward the cost of care. The home-equity limit is $1,130,000.
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Washington State Medicaid Long-Term Care: Eligibility for a Parent (2026)
By Chuck Brodsky, Co-Founder, MediNav — Updated July 2026 — 7 min read
Quick answer
If your parent needs long-term care in Washington, Apple Health is what pays for it, and the state runs strong home-based programs so a nursing facility is not the only option. Knowing the resource limit and how income is treated is the starting point.
The 2026 resource limit and income treatment
For long-term-care Apple Health, the resource limit is $2,000 for a single person in 2026, with the home treated separately under a home-equity limit of $1,130,000. Washington does not simply cut off an applicant for income; instead a person participates toward their cost of care, contributing income up to the cost of their services each month, with Apple Health covering the rest. For a married couple, the federal spousal resource maximum of $162,660 protects the at-home spouse.
Home-based options: Community First Choice and COPES
Washington is known for robust home and community-based care. Community First Choice is a Medicaid state-plan option providing personal care, respite, nurse delegation, and related supports so a parent can stay at home. The COPES waiver (Community Options Program Entry System) offers additional in-home and residential services. These programs let many parents avoid a nursing facility while still getting substantial help.
Who administers what
Apple Health eligibility runs through the Health Care Authority, while the long-term-care system is administered by the DSHS division historically called the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and now branded the Home and Community Living Administration, working with Home and Community Services offices and Area Agencies on Aging. A parent's long-term-care assessment and service planning happen through these offices.
Transfer penalties
If a parent transferred assets before applying, Washington calculates a penalty using the state's private nursing-facility rate. For 2026, that transfer-of-assets divisor is $462 a day, which is $14,059 a month, effective October 1, 2025, under the governing rule. An uncompensated gift is divided by that rate to set the penalty period, so gifts before applying can delay coverage.
What a caregiver should do
Confirm your parent's countable resources against the $2,000 limit, understand that income is contributed toward care rather than being a hard cutoff, and ask about Community First Choice and the COPES waiver if staying at home is the goal. Apply through the Health Care Authority and Home and Community Services. For advocacy in a facility, the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds Program is at 1-800-562-6028.
When to call MediNav
- Free: Ask a specific question — tell us your Washington parent's situation and get a straight answer on Apple Health long-term care.
- Free: Run the coverage check — in about two minutes, see what a parent is likely eligible for with 2026 figures for your state.
- Paid ($9–$19/mo): MediNav Watch and Watch+ re-check the figures as they change each year and remind you before deadlines, so nothing lapses unnoticed.
Related guides
- Medicaid Look-Back Period — how transfers are reviewed
- Community Spouse Resource Allowance — what a healthy spouse keeps
- Medicaid Estate Recovery — recovery after death
- Is My Parent Dual-Eligible? — Medicare + Medicaid together
Frequently asked questions
What is the Washington asset limit for long-term care?
For 2026, the resource limit for long-term-care Apple Health is $2,000 for a single person, with the home treated separately under a home-equity limit of $1,130,000. For a married couple, the federal spousal resource maximum of $162,660 protects the at-home spouse's share of the assets.
Does my parent lose all their income to the nursing home?
No. Washington uses a participation model: a person contributes income up to the cost of their care each month, and Apple Health covers the rest. A parent is not disqualified simply for having income over a threshold, and personal-needs and spousal allowances apply.
Can my parent get care at home instead of a nursing facility?
Often, yes. Washington offers Community First Choice, a state-plan option providing personal care and related supports at home, and the COPES waiver for additional in-home and residential services. These programs help many parents remain at home rather than entering a nursing facility.
Who runs long-term care in Washington?
Apple Health eligibility runs through the Health Care Authority, and the long-term-care system is administered by the DSHS division formerly called the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, now the Home and Community Living Administration, through Home and Community Services and Area Agencies on Aging.
How does Washington calculate a transfer penalty?
It divides an uncompensated transfer by the state's private nursing-facility rate. For 2026 that transfer-of-assets divisor is $462 a day, or $14,059 a month, effective October 1, 2025. A gift of assets before applying can therefore create a period of ineligibility for long-term-care coverage.
Where can I get help with a nursing-home issue?
The Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds Program advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living, and adult family homes. Its statewide number is 1-800-562-6028. For eligibility and service questions, contact your local Home and Community Services office or the Health Care Authority.
Sources: Washington HCA — Apple Health income & resource standards, DSHS — Long-Term Care Manual, Chapter 7a, Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds Program (DSHS). Last verified July 2026.