Navigating Nursing Home Medicaid in Georgia: What You Need to Know

As care costs continue to rise and people live longer, families often wonder how to afford long-term care for their aging loved ones. At Hurley Elder Care Law, we receive calls from concerned family members daily, seeking answers about care options, public benefits, and ways to pay for skilled nursing care.  What do you need to know when navigating nursing home Medicaid in Georgia?

With nursing homes in Atlanta and surrounding areas often exceeding $10,000 per month, many families are turning to nursing home Medicaid for financial relief. But what exactly is nursing home Medicaid, and who qualifies?

Navigating Nursing Home Medicaid in Georgia?

Medicaid in Georgia provides financial assistance for nursing home care to those who meet eligibility requirements:

✅ Must be a Georgia resident
✅ Must be 65 or older, blind, or disabled

✅ Must require a nursing home level of care, such as needing help with daily activities (ADLs)
✅ Must meet income and asset limits:

• 2025 income limit: $2,901 per month for an individual

Did you know?

Many families are surprised to learn that Medicaid is the primary payer for about 80% of Georgia’s nursing home residents. This contradicts the common misconception that Medicaid is only for the extremely poor. In reality, most older adults can’t afford private-pay nursing home costs without assistance.

At Hurley Elder Care Law, we specialize in Medicaid planning and can help you protect your loved one’s assets while securing the care they need. Over the next few weeks, we’ll answer some of the most common questions families have about public benefits in Georgia. Continue to follow our blog to learn more about Medicaid for individuals and couples, exempt assets, the lookback period, Qualified Income Trusts (QIT), estate recovery, waiver programs and more.

If you need guidance now, call our intake specialists at 404-843-0121 to learn how Georgia’s most experienced Certified Elder Law Firm can help.