Is there a Medicaid spend-down in Canada?
No. Canada has no Medicaid program. Long-term care is publicly funded and residents pay only an income-tested accommodation co-payment. There is no requirement to spend down assets, so your savings and home are protected.
How is my long-term care co-payment calculated in Canada?
Provinces test your income, not your assets. For basic accommodation, the province compares your net monthly income (OAS, GIS, CPP, pensions) against the standard rate and reduces it so you keep a minimum monthly comfort allowance. Semi-private and private rooms are charged at the full rate.
Do I need to worry about a gift look-back period in Canada?
For standard provincial long-term care, no. Because subsidies are income-tested rather than asset-tested, there is no 5-year gift look-back like the US Medicaid system. Gifting can still have income-tax and family-law consequences, so seek advice.
Can the government take my house for nursing home costs in Canada?
Generally no. Provinces do not place estate-recovery liens for standard long-term care, and your home is not a countable asset. This is a major difference from US Medicaid, which can pursue estate recovery against a deceased recipient's home.