HUSKY Health Income Limits in Connecticut (2026)

HUSKY Health covers approximately 900,000 Connecticut residents, roughly one in four state residents, making it the state's largest health coverage program. Connecticut launched the HUSKY brand in 1998 as a state CHIP-style expansion for children and has grown the program significantly under the Affordable Care Act. The 2026 HUSKY Health income guidelines, effective March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, are set by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and are based on the federal poverty guidelines published by HHS ASPE. The HUSKY program runs four distinct tracks: HUSKY A for children, parents, caretaker relatives, and pregnant women; HUSKY B (Connecticut CHIP) for children in higher-income families; HUSKY C for aged, blind, and disabled adults; and HUSKY D for adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children, the ACA-expansion group. Understanding which track applies to your household is the first step toward determining your income limit.

Connecticut is a Medicaid expansion state. The state adopted the ACA expansion in January 2014, creating HUSKY D for the newly eligible adult group, which is funded 90% by the federal government and 10% by Connecticut. HUSKY D covers adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which in 2026 is $21,588 per year for a single person or $44,364 per year for a family of four. Adults who qualify for HUSKY D receive the same comprehensive benefit package as other HUSKY A enrollees, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, behavioral health, and transportation. Connecticut does not impose an asset test for HUSKY A or HUSKY D (the MAGI categories). The asset test applies only to HUSKY C (aged/blind/disabled), where countable assets must be under $1,600 for an individual or $2,400 for a couple.

The household-size table below shows the 2026 HUSKY Health income limits for three covered populations: adults and parents (138% FPL, the HUSKY A parent or HUSKY D threshold), children (201% FPL, the HUSKY A children's threshold), and pregnant women (263% FPL, the HUSKY A pregnancy threshold). Connecticut's children's limit of 201% FPL is higher than the federal expansion floor, and the pregnancy limit of 263% FPL is among the most generous in New England. HUSKY B (Connecticut CHIP) extends children's coverage even further, up to 323% FPL, which is $103,836 per year for a family of four in 2026. If your household income falls above the HUSKY Health limit but below 400% FPL, you are likely eligible for ACA marketplace subsidies through Access Health CT, Connecticut's state-based marketplace.

HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) income guidelines below are effective March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, per the Connecticut DSS income charts. Adult column = HUSKY A parents or HUSKY D adults (138% FPL). Children column = HUSKY A children (201% FPL); HUSKY B (Connecticut CHIP) covers children up to 323% FPL. Pregnancy column = HUSKY A pregnant women (263% FPL) with 12 months of postpartum coverage.

HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, HUSKY Health applicants must meet the following non-income requirements. HUSKY A and HUSKY D use MAGI-based eligibility with no asset test. HUSKY C (aged/blind/disabled) adds an asset test and uses SSI-related income rules. The items below apply to the MAGI categories (HUSKY A and D) that handle the vast majority of Connecticut applications.

• Connecticut residency: the applicant must live in Connecticut with the intent to remain. There is no minimum length-of-residence requirement for MAGI categories. Homeless individuals who are in Connecticut qualify if they meet other criteria.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (subject to the federal 5-year bar in most cases), refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and certain other qualifying immigration categories are eligible. Pregnant women and children may be exempt from the 5-year bar under federal CHIPRA rules. Connecticut also runs a state-funded program for pregnant women and children who are ineligible only because of immigration status.
• Social Security Number: required for each person applying for HUSKY coverage. If an SSN has not yet been assigned to a newborn or newly eligible child, the application can be submitted and the SSN provided later. Applicants requesting only Emergency Medical Assistance or HUSKY B Prenatal Care for immigration-status reasons may be exempt.
• Household composition and MAGI filing unit: HUSKY A and D use the tax-filer unit as the household. Parents and their tax dependents form one household. A child who is claimed as a dependent on a parent's tax return is counted in that household for income purposes. Individuals not expected to file taxes are placed in a household based on relationships.
• Asset test for MAGI categories: HUSKY A and HUSKY D (the MAGI groups covering adults, parents, children, and pregnant women) have NO asset test. Connecticut does not count savings accounts, vehicles, or home equity when determining eligibility for these groups.
• Age and category requirements by track: HUSKY A covers children under age 19, parents and caretaker relatives of children under 19, and pregnant women of any age. HUSKY D covers adults ages 19 to 64 who do not have dependent children, are not pregnant, and do not qualify for Medicare. HUSKY C covers adults 65 or older, adults who are blind, or adults with a qualifying disability, and uses an asset test of $1,600 for an individual or $2,400 for a couple.

What income counts for HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid)

HUSKY A and HUSKY D use Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for adults, parents, children, and pregnant women, anchored to the household's projected annual income as defined for federal tax purposes. HUSKY C (aged/blind/disabled) uses SSI countable-income rules instead. The lists below cover the MAGI rules that apply to the vast majority of HUSKY Health applications. Connecticut does not apply the federal 5% disregard on top of the MAGI threshold for HUSKY A and D; the published income limits in the DSS charts are the actual hard limits used at determination.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (gross, before payroll taxes and pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions)
• Net self-employment earnings from 1099 work, freelance contracts, or gig-economy platforms, after allowable business expenses
• Social Security retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, included in MAGI as taxable income; note that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is excluded
• Unemployment compensation and state-funded pandemic or emergency benefit payments when treated as taxable income
• Pensions, annuities, and distributions from qualified retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b), IRA) that are taxable when withdrawn
• Alimony received under divorce or separation agreements finalized before January 1, 2019 (post-2018 alimony agreements are not deductible by the payer and not taxable to the recipient under TCJA, so they are excluded from MAGI)
• Rental income (net of allowable property expenses), investment income including interest, dividends, and taxable capital gains
• Foreign earned income, even when excluded for federal tax purposes by the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, is still counted in MAGI for Medicaid purposes

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which are not the same as SSDI and are excluded from MAGI in all states
• Child support payments received by a custodial parent or guardian, excluded from MAGI for all household members
• Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation, VA pensions, and GI Bill education benefits
• Workers' compensation payments from a state workers' comp board
• Federal tax refunds, refundable tax credits (including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit), and tax-exempt interest
• Gifts, inheritances, and non-recurring one-time payments that are not treated as income on the federal tax return
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, TANF cash assistance, and most federal and state need-based assistance payments

How to apply for HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) in Connecticut

HUSKY Health applications for HUSKY A, B, and D go through Access Health CT, Connecticut's state-based health insurance marketplace, or directly through the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The Access Health CT portal at accesshealthct.com handles both marketplace plan enrollment and HUSKY Health enrollment in a single screening flow, automatically routing applicants to the right program based on income. HUSKY C applications (for aged, blind, and disabled adults) go through the DSS portal at connect.ct.gov. Applications are accepted year-round for HUSKY Health; there is no limited enrollment window.

1. 1. Gather your documents before starting: photo ID for the head of household, Social Security Numbers for everyone applying, proof of Connecticut residency, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and recent income records (last 30 days of pay stubs or most recent tax return).
2. 2. Go to accesshealthct.com and create an account, or call 1-855-805-4325 (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to apply by phone with an enrollment specialist. HUSKY C applicants should use connect.ct.gov under 'Apply for Benefits.'
3. 3. Complete the application: list every household member, report all income sources for the current year, and indicate any existing health coverage. The system screens automatically for HUSKY A, B, D, and marketplace eligibility in one pass.
4. 4. Submit and sign the application electronically. Access Health CT will send a confirmation with your case number; save this for follow-up. If you cannot verify your information electronically, DSS may request documents and will give you a 90-day post-enrollment reasonable opportunity period to provide them.
5. 5. Respond promptly to any DSS or Access Health CT requests for additional information or verification documents. Failing to provide requested documents within the stated deadline is the most common reason HUSKY Health applications are denied.
6. 6. Wait for the eligibility determination. Most HUSKY A and D applications are decided within 30-45 days. Pregnancy applications qualify for presumptive eligibility through a qualified entity, which can start HUSKY coverage for prenatal care within days of application. HUSKY C and long-term care applications can take 60-90 days due to medical and financial reviews.

Official portal: accesshealthct.com

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Connecticut driver's license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued photo ID)
• Social Security Numbers for every household member applying for HUSKY coverage
• Proof of Connecticut residency (recent utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or official mail addressed to you in Connecticut)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status (birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, lawful permanent resident card, or immigration documents)
• Last 30 days of pay stubs for wage earners, or 12 months of income records and profit-and-loss statements for self-employed applicants
• Most recent federal income tax return (Form 1040 and schedules), or a signed statement that no return was filed if applicable
• Proof of pregnancy from a licensed health care provider, if applying for HUSKY A pregnancy coverage or requesting presumptive eligibility for prenatal care

Processing timeline: Standard HUSKY A and D applications are decided within 30-45 days. Pregnancy applications can qualify for presumptive eligibility (started by a qualified entity such as a hospital or prenatal clinic) that covers prenatal care while the full application is pending. HUSKY C applications for aged, blind, or disabled adults typically take 60-90 days because they require a medical determination and, for long-term care, a financial review by the DSS asset unit. Connecticut must decide CHIP applications within 30 days under federal rules.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the program-specific threshold for the applicant's category (HUSKY A parent or HUSKY D adult over 138% FPL, children over 201% FPL, pregnant woman over 263% FPL).
• Failure to provide verification documents within the DSS deadline, including the 90-day post-enrollment reasonable opportunity period. Missing pay stubs, missing immigration documents, and missing proof of residency are the most common specific reasons.
• Federal 5-year bar for newly-arrived lawful permanent residents who do not fall into an exempt category (refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and victims of trafficking are exempt from the bar).
• HUSKY D applicant is 65 or older, eligible for Medicare, has dependent children (which would route to HUSKY A instead), or is pregnant (which routes to HUSKY A pregnancy instead).
• Asset test failure for HUSKY C (aged/blind/disabled) applicants whose countable resources exceed $1,600 for an individual or $2,400 for a couple; or for long-term care Medicaid applicants who fail the 60-month lookback review for asset transfers.

If your child's family income is over the HUSKY A limit, HUSKY B (Connecticut CHIP) covers up to 323% FPL

HUSKY B is Connecticut's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. HUSKY B covers uninsured children under age 19 in households with income above the HUSKY A children's limit (201% FPL) and up to 323% of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2026, that means HUSKY B covers children in families earning up to $86,076 per year for a family of three or $103,836 per year for a family of four. HUSKY B provides comprehensive coverage including medical, dental, and vision care with low or no premiums for most families. Connecticut does not have a waiting period for HUSKY B. Applications go through the same Access Health CT portal at accesshealthct.com; the system automatically determines whether a child qualifies for HUSKY A or HUSKY B based on household income.

Compare CHIP and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

If you have Medicare with limited income, Connecticut's Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, ALMB)

Connecticut administers three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, with income limits that are significantly more generous than the federal floor and with no asset test. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program covers individuals up to 211% of the Federal Poverty Level ($2,807 per month for a single person in 2026) and pays Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program covers individuals up to 231% FPL ($3,073 per month for a single person) and pays the Part B premium only. Connecticut's Additional Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (ALMB) program covers individuals up to 246% FPL ($3,272 per month for a single person) and also pays the Part B premium. Connecticut eliminated the MSP asset test, so owning a home, having savings, or owning a vehicle does not disqualify an applicant. All three Connecticut MSP programs automatically qualify enrollees for the federal Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. Apply for Connecticut MSPs through the Department of Social Services at connect.ct.gov or by calling 1-800-842-1508. Low-income Medicare beneficiaries who need nursing-facility-level care should also ask about HUSKY C long-term care Medicaid, which covers nursing home and home and community-based services for individuals with income up to $2,982 per month in 2026.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions