Utah Medicaid for Seniors & Long-Term Care
Updated August 2026
Utah Medicaid provides a range of long-term services and supports (LTSS) for eligible seniors and adults with physical or developmental disabilities. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Aging and Adult Services division coordinates LTSS access, and the state operates several distinct programs that differ in eligibility, services provided, and whether there is a waiting list.
$2,000
Individual asset (resource) limit
Aging Waiver
Primary HCBS waiver for seniors 65+
60 months
Asset transfer lookback period
Seniors 65+ and LTSS recipients are exempt from new Medicaid work requirements in Utah
New federal Medicaid requirements enacted by H.R. 1 (signed July 4, 2025) do not apply to adults age 65 or older, or to members enrolled in long-term services and supports. If you have questions about your specific LTSS coverage in Utah, contact the Utah Aging and Adult Services division at 1-877-424-4640.
Utah Medicaid long-term care programs
- Nursing facility coverage — for members who meet both functional level-of-care requirements and financial eligibility; residents contribute most of their income toward care costs, retaining a monthly Personal Needs Allowance
- Aging Waiver (Section 1915(c)) — Utah's primary HCBS waiver for seniors age 65 and older who meet nursing facility level of care; provides personal care, adult day health, homemaker services, personal emergency response, home modifications, and respite care; administered through Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
- New Choices Waiver — a nursing-facility-to-community transition waiver under Section 1915(c) for individuals who want to return to community living; eligibility requires an extended stay in a qualifying setting first — 90+ days in a Medicaid-reimbursed nursing facility, 365+ days in a licensed assisted living or small health care (Type N) facility, or a Medicare-reimbursed stay of 30+ days with a planned nursing facility transfer; provides transition coordination, housing assistance, personal care, and other supports
- Medicaid Waiver for People with Physical Disabilities — an HCBS waiver for adults under age 65 with physical disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care; provides personal care, homemaker services, home modifications, and assistive technology
Financial eligibility for Utah LTSS Medicaid
Utah LTSS Medicaid uses non-MAGI rules with both income and asset limits. The standard countable asset limit for a single individual is $2,000. For married couples, the community spouse retains a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) per federal spousal impoverishment protections — for 2026, the community spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660, depending on the couple's total countable assets.
Exempt assets include the primary home (while the applicant intends to return or a spouse lives there), one vehicle, personal property, and a prepaid funeral. Income rules for nursing facility and waiver coverage may require a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) for applicants whose monthly income exceeds the Medicaid income standard.
Utah's income and asset limits change annually, and Medicaid enforces a 60-month lookback period on asset transfers. An elder law attorney or an Area Agency on Aging counselor can review current thresholds and explain the lookback rules before an application is filed.
Estate recovery in Utah
Utah recovers Medicaid costs from the estates of members who were age 55 or older when they received certain services, per 42 U.S.C. § 1396p. Recovery applies to nursing facility services, HCBS waiver services, and related costs paid on the member's behalf. Recovery is deferred while a surviving spouse, minor child, or blind or disabled child is living, and Utah has hardship waiver provisions available.
Starting the LTSS application process in Utah
Contact Utah Aging and Adult Services at 1-877-424-4640 or your local Area Agency on Aging through the Eldercare Locator. AAA counselors provide free assistance with Medicaid LTSS applications, benefits explanation, and eligibility determination guidance. Utah's Single Entry Point (SEP) system routes LTSS applicants to the appropriate program based on clinical and financial screening.
What long-term care Medicaid covers in Utah
Once approved for nursing facility or HCBS-level Medicaid, Utah covers the following services for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities.
- Skilled nursing facility care — room, board, nursing services, and most medical care in the facility
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided in a nursing home
- Personal care assistance with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating) through HCBS waivers
- Home health aide visits for those receiving care at home
- Adult day health care programs
- Respite care to give family caregivers temporary relief
- Durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
Utah Medicaid
- Utah Aging and Adult Services: 1-877-424-4640
- Utah Medicaid (DHHS): medicaid.utah.gov
- Eldercare Locator (find your local Area Agency on Aging): eldercare.acl.gov
Related guides
Medicaid for Seniors
How Medicaid pays for nursing home and long-term care for older adults.
Read more →Estate Recovery
When states can seek reimbursement from an enrollee's estate after death.
Read more →Medicaid & Social Security
How Social Security benefits and Medicaid eligibility interact.
Read more →