Quick answer: New York Medicaid reviews transfers made in the 60 months (5 years) before a nursing home application. A proposed 30-month look-back for community-based care hadn't been put into effect as of August 2026.
For institutional Medicaid, New York enforces a full 60-month (five-year) look-back on nursing-facility applications. Any transfer made for less than fair market value during that window can trigger a Medicaid transfer penalty.
That makes timing and paperwork critical well before anyone files an institutional Medicaid application — a gift or transfer made without accounting for this rule can delay eligibility considerably.
Notably, the community-care side of the picture looks different: a proposed 30-month look-back for community-based Medicaid has been discussed for years but, as of August 2026, still hadn't been put into effect.
New York figures
- Institutional look-back period
- 60 months (5 years)
- Community-care look-back
- Proposed 30 months; not yet implemented as of August 2026
Sources and official resources
- New York DOH: Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver
- U.S. Code: 42 U.S.C. § 1396p (liens, estate recovery, transfers of assets, Partnership disregard)
Rules and figures change. Confirm current details with the agency before you act.