Medicaid and CHIP income limits by state

Every state's limits

As a percent of the poverty line. The adult column also shows the yearly dollar limit for one person.

Sources: MACPAC MACStats (February 2026, Exhibits 35 and 36, data as of July 2025, drawn from CMS eligibility levels and state plan amendments), with 2026 changes from DC, New York, Minnesota, Oregon and South Carolina agencies; HHS 2026 poverty guidelines. "CHIP: in Medicaid" means the state covers those children through Medicaid instead of a separate CHIP program. Limits for Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Wyoming parents are set in dollars by the state and converted here.

The 10 states without expansion

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming did not expand Medicaid. In most of them a working-age adult without children cannot get Medicaid at any income, and parents qualify only at very low incomes. Texas, for example, covers parents only to about 16% of the poverty line, around $4,400 a year for a family of three.

Two of them cover more than that. Georgia Pathways covers adults to 100% of the poverty line if they report 80 hours a month of work or similar activity; its waiver runs through December 31, 2026. Wisconsin covers adults to 100% without expanding.

Adults under 100% of the poverty line in these states fall into what's called the coverage gap: too little income for a marketplace credit, no Medicaid. Once income reaches 100%, the marketplace credit starts, and at 100% to 150% it usually leaves a benchmark silver plan costing a few dollars a month.

What changes in 2027

Federal law (Pub. L. 119-21, section 71119) requires expansion states to start work requirements for adults 19 to 64 no later than January 1, 2027: 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or half-time school, unless exempt. States may start earlier, and a few have. Expansion adults also get eligibility rechecked every six months instead of once a year. Income limits themselves don't change.

Lawfully present immigrants' Medicaid eligibility narrowed on October 1, 2026 (section 71109). If you lose Medicaid for that reason, check whether the marketplace credit applies to you; the rules for that changed too.

How Medicaid counts income

Medicaid uses the same modified adjusted gross income as the marketplace, but it looks at your current monthly income when you apply. Someone who lost a job in March can qualify for Medicaid in April even if their annual income will be too high. You can apply any day of the year. Most states can still cover bills from up to three months before the month you apply, but that shrinks for applications made on or after January 1, 2027: one month back for expansion adults and two months for everyone else (Pub. L. 119-21, section 71112). If you have unpaid medical bills from late 2026, applying before January is worth the effort.

Not sure where you land? The 2027 subsidy calculator screens each person in your household against these limits and prices a marketplace plan for everyone else.