Updated August 26, 2026. Quick answer: West Virginia divides transfers by its average nursing facility private pay rate of $11,903 a month, stated in the manual as $396.76 per day.
The figure West Virginia publishes
| What the state lists | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average monthly private pay rate | $11,903 |
| Same rate, stated per day | $396.76 |
How the penalty period is calculated
- The total amount transferred during the look-back period is divided by the state’s average monthly nursing facility private pay rate.
- Where the remaining amount of the transfer is less than the average monthly private pay cost, the agency imposes a penalty for less than a full month.
Once you have the figure above, the Medicaid penalty period calculator does the arithmetic. This page is the West Virginia rate record; the calculator is the class parent.
What this page does not settle
- The manual applies the same rate to life estate and income transfer calculations, which have their own preceding steps.
Eligibility is decided by the state agency on the whole file, not by this one number. Nothing here is legal advice, and no one should transfer, retitle or give away property on the strength of a worksheet.
Source
West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual, Chapter 24, Long Term Care — retrieved and checked against the state text on August 26, 2026.
Related: West Virginia’s Medicaid home equity limit for a single applicant with no spouse or dependent child at home.
Related: West Virginia’s Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance; the amount a nursing-facility resident keeps from their own income each month.