Medicaid Estate Recovery: Search All 50 States’ Laws, Hardship Rules and Agency Contacts
Search all 50 state Medicaid estate recovery statutes, hardship-waiver criteria, official program links and contact phone numbers in one Apep Bar reference.
Apep Bar Reference Desk | November 10, 2026 | Lotta Goddess
Your relative died, the house is paid off, and the state says Medicaid is owed. Start with your STATE. This national directory lists the legal starting point, reported property reach, a hardship issue to investigate, an official state program or statute link and Medicaid agency contact for all 50 states.
To search: press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac), type your state, or use the alphabetical jump links below. This page works without JavaScript and does not collect your family’s information. The listed phone numbers are generally the state’s general Medicaid line, except where a recovery-specific line is labeled. Ask to be connected to estate recovery/third-party liability.
Browse states A-Z
A C D F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Medicaid estate-recovery law, hardship and state agency lookup
Reading the table: “Probate only,” “Beyond probate” and “Partly beyond probate” are broad categories from an independent September 2026 legal comparison, not guarantees about a particular home. Separate deed, creditor and lien laws can matter even in probate-focused states. Hardship snippets are sourced chiefly from Triage Cancer’s August 2025 state-law reference and newer state agency guidance where available. They are issues to investigate, not exhaustive lists or up-to-date legal advice. Contact the agency about current waivers, deadlines and appeals.
| State / general estate reach | Statute or rule | Hardship/exception to check | Official resource and contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | |||
| Alabama Probate only |
Ala. Admin. Code 560-X-33-.05–.06 | Income-producing family farm or business may qualify for hardship | Official state program, law or guidance 334-242-5000 General Medicaid contact |
| Alaska Probate only |
Alaska Stat. §47.07.055 | A minimum economic benefit compared with recovery costs is required | Official state program, law or guidance 800-780-9972 General Medicaid contact |
| Arizona Probate only |
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §36-2935 | Heir’s residence or business on the property may qualify | Official state program, law or guidance 800-654-8713 General Medicaid contact |
| Arkansas Probate only |
Ark. Code §20-76-436 | State hardship committee may waive; cost effectiveness considered | Official state program, law or guidance 800-482-5431 General Medicaid contact |
| C | |||
| California Probate only |
Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §14009.5 | Hardship request generally due 60 days after claim letter; deaths after Jan. 1, 2017 subject to narrower rules | Official state program, law or guidance 800-541-5555 General Medicaid contact |
| Colorado Partly beyond probate |
Colo. Rev. Stat. §25.5-4-302 | Heirs may request discretionary waiver or compromise | Official state program, law or guidance 800-221-3943 General Medicaid contact |
| Connecticut Partly beyond probate |
Conn. Gen. Stat. §17b-95 | Heirs may request full or partial waiver or deferral | Official state program, law or guidance 855-626-6632 General Medicaid contact |
| D | |||
| Delaware Probate only |
25 Del. C. §§5001–5006 | Certain resident caregivers may have protection | Official state program, law or guidance 866-843-7212 General Medicaid contact |
| F | |||
| Florida Probate only |
Fla. Stat. §409.9101 | Constitutional homestead, residence and caregiving exceptions may matter | Official state program, law or guidance 888-419-3456 General Medicaid contact |
| G | |||
| Georgia Beyond probate |
Ga. Code §49-4-147.1 | Agency FAQ: apply within 30 days; sole-income farm grossing $25,000 or less may qualify | Official state program, law or guidance 866-211-0950 General Medicaid contact |
| H | |||
| Hawaii Probate only |
Haw. Rev. Stat. §346-37 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 800-316-8005 General Medicaid contact |
| I | |||
| Idaho Beyond probate |
Idaho Code §56-218 | Certain tribal-reservation property and low-income heirs protected | Official state program, law or guidance 877-456-1233 General Medicaid contact |
| Illinois Probate only |
305 ILCS 5/5-13 | Family farm/business and public-assistance need can matter | Official state program, law or guidance 800-843-6154 General Medicaid contact |
| Indiana Beyond probate |
Ind. Code §§12-15-9 et seq. | Immediate family can request substantial-hardship relief | Official state program, law or guidance 800-403-0864 General Medicaid contact |
| Iowa Beyond probate |
Iowa Code §249A.53 | Agency: hardship request within 30 days of notice, with income below 200% FPL, resources at most $10,000, and necessity test | Official state program, law or guidance 877-463-7887 (estate program) Recovery program |
| K | |||
| Kansas Beyond probate |
Kan. Stat. §39-709(k) | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 800-792-4884 General Medicaid contact |
| Kentucky Beyond probate |
907 Ky. Admin. Reg. 1:585 | Low-value estates or heir education/medical needs may matter | Official state program, law or guidance 855-306-8959 General Medicaid contact |
| L | |||
| Louisiana Probate only |
La. Rev. Stat. §46:153.4(D) | Some first-degree heirs with family income no greater than 300% FPL | Official state program, law or guidance 888-342-6207 General Medicaid contact |
| M | |||
| Maine Partly beyond probate |
22 Me. Rev. Stat. §14 | Family allowance and cost-effective collection rules | Official state program, law or guidance 855-797-4357 General Medicaid contact |
| Maryland Probate only |
Md. Health–General §15-121 | Dependent heirs unable to find other shelter may qualify | Official state program, law or guidance 855-642-8572 General Medicaid contact |
| Massachusetts Probate only |
Mass. Gen. Laws ch.118E, §31 | Post-Aug. 2024 narrower recovery; probate estates $25,000 or less are waived | Official state program, law or guidance 800-841-2900 General Medicaid contact |
| Michigan Probate only |
Mich. Comp. Laws §§400.112g–k | Means-tested modest-home or farm/business hardship | Official state program, law or guidance 833-599-6444 General Medicaid contact |
| Minnesota Beyond probate |
Minn. Stat. §256B.15 | Review survivor and homestead rules and claims beyond probate | Official state program, law or guidance 800-657-3672 General Medicaid contact |
| Mississippi Probate only |
Miss. Code §43-13-317 | Caregiving resident relative and income-producing home | Official state program, law or guidance 800-421-2408 General Medicaid contact |
| Missouri Probate only |
Mo. Rev. Stat. §473.398 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 573-751-3425 General Medicaid contact |
| Montana Beyond probate |
Mont. Code §53-6-167 | Under ARM 37.82.431 heirs can request hardship relief | Official state program, law or guidance 800-362-8312 General Medicaid contact |
| N | |||
| Nebraska Beyond probate |
Neb. Rev. Stat. §68-919 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 855-632-7633 General Medicaid contact |
| Nevada Beyond probate |
Nev. Rev. Stat. §422.29302 | Caregiving, shelter, medical limits, or assistance needs can matter | Official state program, law or guidance 877-638-3472 General Medicaid contact |
| New Hampshire Beyond probate |
N.H. Rev. Stat. §167:14 | Undue hardship or recovery not cost effective | Official state program, law or guidance 844-275-3447 General Medicaid contact |
| New Jersey Beyond probate |
N.J. Stat. §30:4D-7.2 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 800-701-0710 General Medicaid contact |
| New Mexico Probate only |
N.M. Stat. §§27-2A-1 et seq. | Need-based assistance and modest-value homestead | Official state program, law or guidance 800-283-4465 General Medicaid contact |
| New York Probate only |
N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law §369 | Livelihood asset or home below half county average can qualify | Official state program, law or guidance Contact via CMS state directory General Medicaid contact |
| North Carolina Probate only |
N.C. Gen. Stat. §108A-70.5 | Statute provides for hardship and cost effectiveness | Official state program, law or guidance 888-245-0179 General Medicaid contact |
| North Dakota Beyond probate |
N.D. Cent. Code §50-24.1-07 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 800-755-2604 General Medicaid contact |
| O | |||
| Ohio Beyond probate |
Ohio Rev. Code §5162.21 | Food/shelter/basic needs, public-assistance eligibility, or livelihood | Official state program, law or guidance 800-324-8680 General Medicaid contact |
| Oklahoma Probate only |
63 Okla. Stat. §5051.3 | Loss of essential medical care, food or shelter | Official state program, law or guidance 800-987-7767 General Medicaid contact |
| Oregon Beyond probate |
Or. Rev. Stat. §416.350 | Risk of homelessness or needing assistance | Official state program, law or guidance 800-699-9075 General Medicaid contact |
| P | |||
| Pennsylvania Probate only |
62 Pa. Stat. §1412 | Certain estates $2,400 or less, caregiver occupancy or family farms | Official state program, law or guidance 800-528-3708 (estate program) Recovery program |
| R | |||
| Rhode Island Probate only |
R.I. Gen. Laws §40-8-15 | Federal undue-hardship process applies; request current state criteria and deadline | Official state program, law or guidance 855-840-4774 General Medicaid contact |
| S | |||
| South Carolina Probate only |
S.C. Code §43-7-460 | Modest home-value criteria and long-term-care partnership rules | Official state program, law or guidance 888-549-0820 General Medicaid contact |
| South Dakota Beyond probate |
S.D. Codified Laws §28-6-23 | Surviving spouse has six months to petition to limit later estate recovery | Official state program, law or guidance 605-773-3653 (recoveries office) Recovery program |
| T | |||
| Tennessee Probate only |
Tenn. Code §71-5-116 | Caregiver child or sibling occupancy can delay; farm as sole income can qualify for waiver | Official state program, law or guidance 866-389-8444 (estate unit) Recovery program |
| Texas Probate only |
Tex. Gov’t Code §546.0403; 1 TAC ch.373 | 2026 agency guide lists $15,000 estate and $5,000 Medicaid-cost thresholds; separate hardship waiver | Official state program, law or guidance 800-641-9356 (Texas MERP case contractor, Stellarware); HHSC email: merp@hhs.texas.gov Estate recovery case contact (official 2026 HHS guidance) |
| U | |||
| Utah Beyond probate |
Utah Code §26B-3-1013 | Special exceptions for some adult children/siblings and tribal assets | Official state program, law or guidance 866-435-7414 General Medicaid contact |
| V | |||
| Vermont Probate only |
33 V.S.A. §1906a | Qualifying caregiver/low-income heir; special $250,000 homestead valuation test | Official state program, law or guidance 802-241-9343 (estate office) Recovery program |
| Virginia Beyond probate |
Va. Code §32.1-326.1 | Modest-value home or income-producing family farm | Official state program, law or guidance 833-522-5582 General Medicaid contact |
| W | |||
| Washington Beyond probate |
Wash. Rev. Code §41.05A.090 | State hardship statute provides DELAY of recovery, not cancellation | Official state program, law or guidance 800-562-3022 General Medicaid contact |
| West Virginia Probate only |
W. Va. Code §9-5-11c | 2024 survey noted $50,000 modest-home threshold (confirm current rule) | Official state program, law or guidance 877-716-1212 General Medicaid contact |
| Wisconsin Beyond probate |
Wis. Stat. §49.496 | Heirs needing assistance or losing livelihood | Official state program, law or guidance 800-362-3002 General Medicaid contact |
| Wyoming Beyond probate |
Wyo. Stat. §§42-4-206–207 | Working family farm or ranch that sustains heirs | Official state program, law or guidance 855-294-2127 General Medicaid contact |
Not all deadlines mean the same thing
Iowa: State guidance describes a 30-day hardship application deadline after receiving a notice and a strict means test (Iowa HHS). California: DHCS describes a 60-day deadline after its estate-recovery claim letter for substantial-hardship requests (DHCS). Georgia: A 2025 FAQ describes 30 days after receipt of its estate claim (Georgia DCH). South Dakota: A surviving spouse has six months after the recipient’s death to submit a different special petition that can limit a later claim (South Dakota DSS). Never assume one state’s form or deadline applies in another.
What heirs should do first
- Save the letter, envelope and attachments; document when it was delivered.
- Ask for itemized payments, dates, capitation charges, offsets and the statute cited for each claim.
- Find the property’s recorded deed, any lien records and the probate filing.
- Ask about surviving-spouse, minor-child, disabled-child, caregiver, modest-home, farm/business, tribal asset and hardship exceptions, when relevant.
- Request the current waiver and appeal forms in writing, preserve deadlines and seek elder-law or local legal-aid advice before transferring or selling property.
Federal law: 42 U.S.C. §1396p and CMS estate recovery guidance. Contact fallback: official CMS directory for every state Medicaid agency. Local support: Eldercare Locator.
Related original investigation: The Medicaid House Trap: How All 50 States Can Claim a Family Home.
Research snapshot, November 10, 2026. State pages and laws may change; some sources are dated 2024-2025. The death date and exact claim, ownership and household facts govern. Informational research, not individual legal advice.