Medicaid & CHIP

Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people with household incomes below a certain level. Others haven’t.

Whether you qualify for Medicaid coverage depends partly on whether your state has expanded its program.

• In all states: You can qualify for Medicaid based on income, household size, disability, family status, and other factors. Eligibility rules differ between states.
• In states that have expanded Medicaid coverage: You can qualify based on your income alone. If your household income is below 133% of the federal poverty level, you qualify. (Because of the way this is calculated, it turns out to be 138% of the federal poverty level. A few states use a different income limit.)

Find out if your state is expanding Medicaid and if you qualify based only on your household income. We’ll also tell you if you qualify for savings on a health insurance plan instead.

If your income is low and your state hasn’t expanded Medicaid

If your state hasn’t expanded Medicaid, your income is below the federal poverty level, and you don't qualify for Medicaid under your state's current rules, you won’t qualify for either health insurance savings program: Medicaid coverage or savings on a private health plan bought through the Marketplace.

Find out why

• When the health care law was passed, it required states to provide Medicaid coverage for all adults 18 to 65 with incomes up to 133% (effectively 138%) of the federal poverty level, regardless of their age, family status, or health.
• The law also provides premium tax credits for people with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level to buy private insurance plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace ® .
• The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that the Medicaid expansion is voluntary with states. As a result, some states haven’t expanded their Medicaid programs.
• Adults in those states with incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level, and who don’t qualify for Medicaid based on disability, age, or other factors, fall into a gap.
  • Their incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid in their states.
  • Their incomes are below the range the law set for savings on a Marketplace insurance plan.
  States are continuing to make coverage decisions. They could expand Medicaid in the future.

  Note: If your income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, you may be able to enroll in or change Marketplace coverage through a new

  Special Enrollment Period

  A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount.

  Refer to glossary for more details.

  Apply for Medicaid coverage, even if your state hasn’t expanded

  Even if your state hasn't expanded Medicaid and it looks like your income is below the level to qualify for financial help with a Marketplace plan, you should fill out a Marketplace application.

  Each state has coverage options that could work for you – particularly if you have children, are pregnant, or have a disability. And when you provide more detailed income information you may fall into the range to save.

  If you don’t qualify for either Medicaid or Marketplace savings

  • You can get care at a nearby community health center. The health care law has expanded funding to community health centers, which provide primary care for millions of Americans. These centers provide services on a sliding scale based on your income. Check how to get low-cost care in your community.
  • You may qualify for a "Catastrophic" health plan. If you’re under 30 years old, you can enroll in a "Catastrophic" plan. If you’re 30 or older and want to enroll in a
  "Catastrophic" plan

  Health plans that meet all of the requirements applicable to other Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) but don't cover any benefits other than 3 primary care visits per year before the plan's deductible is met. Refer to glossary for more details.

  advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC)

  A tax credit you can take in advance to lower your monthly health insurance payment (or “premium”). When you apply for coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace®, you estimate your expected income for the year. If you qualify for a premium tax credit based on your estimate, you can use any amount of the credit in advance to lower your premium. Refer to glossary for more details.

  • Weren’t eligible for Medicaid when you first applied because you live in a state that hasn’t expanded Medicaid
  • Weren’t eligible for a Marketplace plan with tax credits when you first applied because your income was too low
  • Had an increase in expected yearly income that now qualifies you for a Marketplace plan with tax credits
  Register to vote

  If you would like to register to vote, you can get information about resources for your state through Vote.gov.