New MexiCare Program: Eligibility, Income Limits, and How to Apply

Your parent needs help at home — assistance with bathing, dressing, preparing meals — but their monthly income is $3,200, which is over the $2,982 Medicaid cap. In most states, they'd fall through the gap: too much income for Medicaid, not enough to afford private home care. New Mexico created the New MexiCare program specifically for this situation.

What New MexiCare Is

New MexiCare is a state-funded caregiver support program that operates outside the federal Medicaid system. Because it uses state dollars rather than federal matching funds, it's not bound by Medicaid's strict income and asset rules. It was designed to help moderate-income seniors stay at home rather than being forced into nursing facilities — the care setting nobody wants and the most expensive option for both families and the state.

Eligibility Requirements

Income limits (2026):

• Individual: $3,387/month
• Couple: $6,774/month

Resource limits (checking and savings combined):

• Individual: $20,322
• Couple: $40,644

Clinical requirement: The applicant must need assistance with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, or mobility.

Residency: Must be a New Mexico resident.

Compare this to Medicaid long-term care eligibility: income under $2,982/month and assets under $2,000. New MexiCare's limits are dramatically more generous, covering families that Medicaid excludes entirely.

What New MexiCare Covers

The program provides in-home caregiver support services including:

• Personal care assistance (bathing, grooming, dressing)
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping related to the care plan
• Accompaniment to medical appointments
• Environmental modifications (ramps, grab bars, adaptive equipment)
• Respite care for family caregivers

The specific services and hours depend on the individual care plan developed during the assessment process.

How New MexiCare Differs from Turquoise Care

Families often confuse New MexiCare with the Turquoise Care Community Benefit (New Mexico's Medicaid HCBS waiver). They serve different populations:

Turquoise Care Community Benefit:

• Federal Medicaid program (joint federal-state funding)
• Income cap: $2,982/month
• Asset limit: $2,000
• Must meet nursing facility level of care
• Requires enrollment in a Turquoise Care MCO
• Mandatory 120-day Agency-Based period before Self-Directed option
• Can hire family members as paid caregivers (under SDCB model)

New MexiCare:

• State-funded only (no federal Medicaid rules)
• Income cap: $3,387/month
• Resource limit: $20,322
• Must need help with 2+ ADLs
• Not tied to an MCO
• No Miller Trust required for income over Medicaid cap

For families whose income falls between $2,982 and $3,387/month, New MexiCare may be the only program available. For those under $2,982, both programs could apply — but the Turquoise Care Community Benefit typically provides more comprehensive coverage.

How to Apply

Contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-432-2080. The ADRC serves as the central intake point for aging services in New Mexico, including New MexiCare assessments. They can also be reached through the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) at aging.nm.gov.

After initial screening, a care assessor will schedule an in-home visit to evaluate your parent's functional needs and develop a care plan.

When to Apply

Don't wait until a crisis. If your parent is being discharged from a hospital and needs in-home support but doesn't qualify for Medicaid, contact the ADRC before discharge day. The hospital discharge planner can also initiate a referral.

New MexiCare can bridge the gap while you work on a Medicaid application (if your parent's income is borderline) or serve as the long-term solution for families whose income permanently exceeds the Medicaid cap but who can't afford private home care at $25-$35/hour.

The Hospital-to-Home New Mexico toolkit includes eligibility comparison worksheets for New MexiCare, Turquoise Care, and Medicare home health to help families find the right program quickly.

See more New Mexico guides →