Where can I find the official 2026 Medicaid income charts and calculator by state?
Executive summary
The definitive place to get official, state-by-state 2026 Medicaid income charts and calculators is your state Medicaid agency or your state’s health insurance marketplace; many states publish 2026 income tables and downloadable PDFs (for example Minnesota’s 2026 income guidelines and California’s FPL chart) and federal guidance on eligibility rules is on Medicaid.gov [1] [2] [3]. Independent aggregators and law‑firm guides (MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org, CheckMedicaid, Jarvis Law) publish helpful compiled charts and calculators but they are not official—use them to estimate and then confirm with the state source [4] [5] [6] [7].
1. Where the “official” charts live — state sites and marketplaces
Every state publishes its own Medicaid income limits, usually on the state Medicaid office or the state-based marketplace site; examples in the search results include Minnesota’s downloadable 2026 income guidelines (PDFs in multiple languages) and Covered California’s program‑by‑FPL chart for 2026 [1] [8]. Federal Medicaid eligibility policy and methods (for MAGI vs. non‑MAGI populations) are maintained by Medicaid.gov and explain how income is calculated across states [3].
2. Useful federal anchors — FPL and MAGI rules to interpret charts
State income limits are built on federal measures such as the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and MAGI income rules; HealthCare.gov’s FPL glossary and CMS guidance explain how income is counted for Medicaid and CHIP and which groups use MAGI vs. SSI methodologies [9] [3]. Knowing whether a state uses MAGI or SSI methodology helps you read the tables correctly.
3. Reliable aggregators and calculators — fast but confirm with the state
Several third‑party services collect and present state limits and offer calculators — examples in the results include CheckMedicaid, MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org, and law‑firm or elder‑care planning pages that publish 2025–2026 charts and spend‑down calculators [6] [10] [7] [4]. These tools are useful to estimate eligibility quickly, but they are not replacements for the state’s official pages and sometimes show projections rather than final, legally binding figures [11].
4. Special programs and long‑term care charts — extra complexity
Long‑term care (nursing home and HCBS waivers) often uses different limits (for example many states reference 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate for institutional Medicaid), and some compilers publish projected 2026 long‑term care income limits for states [11] [5]. If you’re checking nursing‑home eligibility or spousal‑income allowances, use the state’s long‑term care pages or local Department of Social Services office for authoritative rules.
5. How to find the exact state page quickly — practical steps
Search for “[State name] Medicaid eligibility income 2026” or go to your state’s Medicaid or marketplace home page and look for “income guidelines,” “eligibility tables,” or downloadable PDFs; the Minnesota example shows a clear downloadable set for 2026 and California’s Covered California provides an FPL eligibility PDF [1] [2]. If you need hands‑on help, some state pages list navigator or call center contacts (e.g., North Carolina’s site notes call and navigator support) [12].
6. What these sources do and do not say — limits and caveats
Available sources show many state and nonprofit sites already posting 2025–2026 income tables and calculators, but they also make clear differences: some pages present final figures (state PDFs), others present projections or attorney‑advice context [1] [11] [7]. The search results do not include a single centralized “official” federal 50‑state chart for 2026 income limits; Medicaid.gov explains methodology but points you to states for concrete limits [3]. If you need a legally binding determination, the state agency’s eligibility decision is the authoritative source [3].
7. Recommended next actions — quick checklist
1) Go to your state Medicaid agency website or your state’s marketplace and download the 2026 income guidelines/PDF (examples: MNsure, Covered California) [1] [2]. 2) Use reputable calculators (KFF, CheckMedicaid, MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org) to estimate eligibility, then confirm with the state [13] [6] [10]. 3) For long‑term care or complex family/spousal situations, consult the state long‑term care pages or a certified planner because rules (FBR, MMMNA, look‑back) vary and sites like MedicaidPlanningAssistance document those nuances [11] [5].
Limitations: This summary is based on the returned search results and does not include any state pages beyond the examples cited; for the exact, current income table for your state, consult that state’s official site [1] [2] [3].