Nursing Home Medicaid, which is also known as Institutionalized Care Program (ICP) Medicaid, is a government program that helps pay for the care of eligible individuals residing in nursing homes. The applicant must meet certain medical, asset and income criteria, and must also be a United States citizen or resident alien. Eligibility rules are different for single people than they are for married people.

 The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 significantly restricts the planning choices available to create Medicaid eligibility. However, many viable options still remain. A well spouse need not become destitute to pay for the nursing home care of their ill spouse. Nor does a single person in a nursing home have to be left with no funds to pay for extra care that Medicaid does not cover.