Question 1

What is PASSPORT and how is it different from the Assisted Living Waiver?

Accepted Answer

PASSPORT is Ohio's flagship home and community-based Medicaid waiver, delivered through Area Agencies on Aging, designed to keep Medicaid-eligible seniors who need nursing-facility level of care living at home rather than in an institution. It covers personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day care, minor home modifications, medical transportation, and, as of October 2024, Structured Family Caregiving. Like the Assisted Living Waiver, it never pays for room and board, since it's strictly an in-home program.

Question 2

What is MyCare Ohio and which Cleveland-area counties does it cover?

Accepted Answer

MyCare Ohio is a managed care demonstration for Ohioans eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, coordinating medical care, behavioral health, and long-term services and supports through a single plan. Its Northeast Ohio region covers all of Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and Geauga counties, plus Summit and Portage counties. As of mid-2026 Ohio was mid-transition on a restructuring called Next Generation MyCare, so families should confirm current plan and county status directly with the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

Question 3

What are Ohio's income and asset limits for nursing home Medicaid in 2025?

Accepted Answer

As of 2025, the income limit for a single applicant is $2,901 per month, 300 percent of the SSI federal benefit rate, and the asset limit is $2,000 for a single applicant or $3,000 combined for a couple where both need care. A community spouse can keep between $31,267 and $148,620 in countable assets under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. These figures adjust annually and should be confirmed with the Ohio Department of Medicaid or an elder law attorney.

Question 4

How do I actually apply for Medicaid long-term care coverage in Ohio?

Accepted Answer

Applications go through the Ohio Department of Medicaid at benefits.ohio.gov, or families can contact the Area Agency on Aging serving their county for help with a waiver assessment and to get on any relevant waiting list. Applicants need to meet both the nursing-facility level-of-care clinical standard and the state's non-MAGI financial eligibility rules.

Memory Care in the Cleveland area

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