How much of a community spouse's income must be spent on care for their spouse in an institution receiving Medicaid?

In the context of Medicaid, a community spouse is the living spouse of an individual who is receiving long-term care services, typically in a nursing home. Medicaid regulations specifically protect the community spouse's income and assets to ensure they are not left in financial hardship due to their spouse's care costs.

The correct option indicates that a community spouse is not required to use any of their income for their spouse's care in a nursing facility if they choose not to. Instead, the community spouse may retain their income to cover living expenses and maintain financial stability.

States do have guidelines about what portion of the institutionalized spouse's income can be allocated to the community spouse and what qualifies as necessary for their maintenance, but the fundamental principle remains that there is no mandatory requirement for the community spouse to spend their income on the care of their institutionalized spouse.

This approach is an important part of Medicaid's framework aimed at preventing impoverishment of the community spouse while the other spouse receives necessary medical services.