A checklist for families in Northern Virginia. Print it, fill it in, and bring it to the call.
Part 1. The three tests
Virginia looks at three things. All three have to line up.
1. Financial
- Monthly income, all sources, including Social Security
- Countable assets: bank accounts, second property, investments
- The home they live in usually does not count, and one vehicle usually does not count
- Married? Virginia’s spousal rules can let the spouse who stays at home keep part of the couple’s savings and part of the other spouse’s monthly income. Do not assume you are disqualified because of a joint account.
What families are often not told about the financial test
Both of those rules have limits worth knowing before you plan around them. The figures below were current in August 2026.
- There is a cap on home equity. In 2026, equity above $752,000 can stop Medicaid paying for long term services and supports, unless a spouse, a child under 21, or a child with a disability lives in the home. Extra vehicles beyond the first are counted.
- The spouse at home keeps a range, not everything. In 2026 the protected savings amount runs from $32,532 to $162,660 depending on the couple’s resources, and the monthly income allowance starts at $2,705 with a cap of $4,066.50. Savings above the protected amount still have to be spent down.
- The home can still be claimed later. After a member dies, Virginia may seek repayment from the estate for care paid after age 55, and the estate can include the home. A home that does not count for eligibility is not the same as a home that is protected forever.
- These rules cover one group. They apply to Medicaid for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Adults who qualify through a different Medicaid group are covered by different rules.
2. Functional
Does she need hands-on help with daily living? Tick what is true today, not what was true last year.
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Getting to and from the toilet
- Moving from bed to chair
- Eating
- Managing medication
- Cannot be left alone safely
3. The waiver slot
- A screening has been completed, or you know how to request one
- The CCC Plus Waiver has been mentioned by name
- You know who the care coordinator is
Nothing moves until the screening is done. If nobody has said the word screening to you, that is your next phone call.
Part 2. What to have in front of you
- Medicaid or Medicare card, both sides
- Social Security number
- Proof of income, most recent statement
- Bank statements, last three months
- List of current medications
- Hospital discharge paperwork, if there was a recent stay
- Name and number of the primary doctor
Part 3. Questions to ask the plan
Call the number on the back of the card.
- Does she have the CCC Plus Waiver, or is a screening still needed?
- Who is the care coordinator and what is their direct number?
- How many personal care hours are currently authorized?
- Can a family member be the paid caregiver under consumer direction?
- Which home care agencies are in network?
Write the answers down with the date and the name of the person who told you. You will be asked to repeat them.
Part 4. If the answer is no
It is not always the end.
- A denial can be appealed, and the timeline is short. Ask for it in writing.
- Circumstances change. A fall, a new diagnosis or a hospital stay can change the functional assessment.
- There are other routes: veterans benefits, long term care insurance, and private pay for a few hours a week to keep someone safe.
Where we fit
Millennium Home Health Care is licensed by the Virginia Department of Health, license HCO-14982, enrolled with Virginia Medicaid, and contracted with all four Cardinal Care plans in Northern Virginia.
We can look at your answers and tell you how it appears to us, at no cost. We cannot approve anyone, and we will tell you quickly if it does not look like a fit. DMAS and the health plan decide.
Confused by the names on the paperwork? Cardinal Care, CCC Plus and your health plan are three different things. If a family member is going to do the caring, read paid family caregiver, with real time off.
Call (703) 941-8412 or ask for a free in-home assessment. A real person answers, in English or Amharic.
Figures on this page were current in August 2026. Virginia resets the savings figures each January and the monthly income allowance each July. Confirm current numbers with your health plan or a services facilitator.