Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits (2026)

Kentucky Medicaid is one of the more accessible Medicaid programs in the South because Kentucky adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion effective January 1, 2014. As an expansion state, Kentucky covers any adult ages 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, regardless of whether they have a dependent child, a disability, or any other categorical requirement. For 2026, the 138% FPL threshold translates to $22,025 per year for a single person or $45,540 per year for a family of four, calculated from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines ($15,960 base for one person in the 48 contiguous states, plus $5,680 per additional household member). Kentucky Medicaid is administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) and covers approximately 1.4 million Kentuckians as of 2025, including about one in four state residents.

Kentucky Medicaid eligibility splits into several population groups with different income thresholds. Adults under 65 who are not disabled use Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules: no asset test, with income counted the same way it is on a federal tax return. Children and pregnant women are also MAGI-based. The thresholds are notably different across these groups: children ages 1 to 18 qualify for Kentucky Medicaid at up to 147% FPL, infants under 12 months qualify at up to 200% FPL, and pregnant women qualify at up to 200% FPL. Children above the Medicaid income threshold may qualify for KCHIP, Kentucky's separate Children's Health Insurance Program, which extends coverage up to 218% FPL. Seniors aged 65 and older and adults with qualifying disabilities are covered under the aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) categories, which use SSI-based income and asset tests rather than MAGI rules. As of 2026, Kentucky Medicaid also covers community-based long-term supports and services through several HCBS waiver programs for people who meet both a clinical level-of-care requirement and the financial eligibility criteria.

Beginning December 2026, Kentucky Medicaid expansion adults will be subject to new community engagement requirements under the federal One Big Beautiful Budget Act (OBBBA), requiring 80 hours per month of qualifying work, education, caregiving, or community service activities. Enforcement is expected to begin January 2027. Exemptions apply to medically frail individuals, pregnant and postpartum people, caregivers of dependents, full-time students, and those with certain behavioral health conditions. Additionally, OBBBA requires ACA expansion adults to renew eligibility every six months beginning December 2026, rather than the current annual renewal cycle. Kentucky Medicaid applicants and current enrollees should monitor updates from CHFS and kynect as these rules take effect. Applications for 2026 coverage continue to be processed through kynect at kynect.ky.gov, with no enrollment period restrictions for Medicaid.

Kentucky Medicaid (administered via kynect) income limits by household size (2026)

Kentucky Medicaid income limits by household size (2026). Adult column = expansion-group threshold (138% FPL). Children column = highest infant/pregnancy bracket (200% FPL; children ages 1-18 qualify at 147% FPL; KCHIP extends to 218% FPL). Pregnancy column = 200% FPL (Kentucky standard). Income is counted under MAGI rules for all non-elderly non-disabled groups.

Kentucky Medicaid (administered via kynect) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Kentucky Medicaid eligibility depends on several non-income factors in addition to the household income thresholds listed in the table above. Meeting the income limit is necessary but not sufficient. The following criteria apply across all MAGI and non-MAGI categories.

• Kentucky residency: Applicants must live in Kentucky. There is no minimum residency duration requirement, but applicants must intend to remain in Kentucky and provide proof of a Kentucky address (utility bill, lease, bank statement, or a signed statement of residence if no documents are available).
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens and most lawful permanent residents (after a 5-year waiting period for most immigrant categories) qualify. Certain non-citizen categories are also eligible, including asylees, refugees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasian immigrants, and Special Immigrant Visa holders. Undocumented immigrants do not qualify for full Kentucky Medicaid but may qualify for emergency Medicaid for immediately life-threatening conditions.
• Social Security Number: Every household member applying for Kentucky Medicaid must provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or proof that an SSN has been applied for. Household members who are not applying for coverage (for example, an undocumented parent applying only for their citizen child) do not need to provide an SSN.
• Age and categorical eligibility: The expansion adult group covers ages 19 to 64. Children under 19 apply under a separate track using children's FPL thresholds. Individuals 65 and older apply under the aged Medicaid category, which uses SSI-based income and asset tests. Individuals with qualifying disabilities apply under the blind or disabled category regardless of age.
• No asset test for MAGI categories: Adults ages 19 to 64, children, and pregnant women applying under MAGI rules are not subject to an asset test. They may own a home, car, savings account, or other property without it affecting eligibility. The asset test (typically $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple) applies only to the aged, blind, and disabled categories under SSI-based rules.
• Other health coverage: Having employer-sponsored insurance or other coverage does not automatically disqualify an applicant from Kentucky Medicaid, but enrollment rules vary. Adults who have access to cost-effective employer coverage may be evaluated under the CHFS cost-effectiveness test. Children and pregnant women are generally not excluded on the basis of having access to other coverage.
• Community engagement requirements (coming December 2026): Under the federal OBBBA, adults ages 19 to 64 in the ACA expansion group who are not otherwise exempt will be required to report 80 hours per month of qualifying work, education, caregiving, or community service. Exemptions include medically frail individuals, pregnant and postpartum people, caregivers of dependents, full-time students, those with serious mental illness or substance use disorder, and those in Indian Health Service areas. Reporting begins December 2026; enforcement begins January 2027.

What income counts for Kentucky Medicaid (administered via kynect)

Kentucky Medicaid for adults, children, and pregnant women uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules to determine household income. MAGI follows federal tax principles: income is counted the same way it appears on a federal income tax return, with a few adjustments. Kentucky does not apply a 5% income disregard on top of MAGI for the standard expansion adult group, though the federal 5% income disregard may apply in certain categories. Understanding what counts and what does not count as income can make the difference between qualifying and not qualifying for Kentucky Medicaid.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, and tips (W-2 income from any employer, including part-time and seasonal work)
• Self-employment net earnings (gross revenue minus allowable business expenses, as reported on Schedule C or Schedule F of the federal tax return)
• Interest and dividend income (reported on 1099-INT and 1099-DIV; counts even if not taxable federally for many filers)
• Capital gains from the sale of assets such as stocks, bonds, or property (net gains after deducting losses, as reported on Schedule D)
• Unemployment compensation and state unemployment insurance payments (fully counted as MAGI income)
• Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, specifically the taxable portion as reported on the federal tax return (note: SSI is excluded; see below)
• Pensions, annuities, and retirement account distributions (including IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, taxable portion only)
• Rental income net of allowable expenses (reported on Schedule E); foreign earned income even if excluded for tax purposes; alimony received under divorce agreements finalized before December 31, 2018

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI payments are not counted as income for Kentucky Medicaid MAGI calculations. Note that SSI recipients may qualify for Medicaid directly through their SSI eligibility, but SSI dollars do not count toward the MAGI income limit.
• Child support payments received: Child support received from a non-custodial parent is excluded from MAGI income for Kentucky Medicaid purposes.
• Veterans' benefits: VA disability compensation, pension payments, GI Bill education benefits, and other VA payments are excluded from Kentucky Medicaid MAGI income.
• Workers' compensation: Payments received from a workers' compensation program following a work-related injury or illness are not counted as MAGI income.
• Cash gifts, inheritances, and one-time windfalls: Gifts of cash or property received from family or others, inheritances, and one-time lump sums are generally excluded, though recurring income from an inheritance (like rental payments from inherited property) would be counted.
• TANF cash assistance, foster care payments, and most need-based government assistance: Payments from the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP), foster care maintenance payments, adoption subsidies, and most other federal need-based assistance programs are not counted as MAGI income.

How to apply for Kentucky Medicaid (administered via kynect) in Kentucky

Kentucky Medicaid applications are submitted through kynect, the state's unified benefits portal operated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). kynect (kynect.ky.gov) handles Kentucky Medicaid, KCHIP, SNAP, KTAP, Child Care Assistance, and several other programs through a single combined application. Applications can be submitted online at any time, by phone at 855-459-6328, in person at any local DCBS (Department for Community Based Services) office, or by mail. There are no enrollment periods for Medicaid; applications are accepted year-round.

1. Step 1: Gather your documents before you start. You will need a photo ID for the head of household, Social Security Numbers for everyone applying for coverage, proof of Kentucky residency, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and documentation of all household income sources (pay stubs, benefit letters, self-employment records).
2. Step 2: Create a kynect account at kynect.ky.gov using your email address and a Kentucky Online Gateway (KOG) username and password. If you already have a KOG account from a prior state program, you can use the same credentials.
3. Step 3: Complete the kynect application. List every household member (including anyone who lives with you even if they are not applying), report all income for the past 30 days (or annual income if self-employed), and upload or attach supporting documents. Answer all questions about citizenship, immigration status, and Social Security Numbers for everyone applying.
4. Step 4: Sign and submit the application electronically within kynect. You will receive a confirmation number; save it for your records. If you cannot complete the online application, call 855-459-6328 for phone assistance or visit your local DCBS office for in-person help.
5. Step 5: Respond promptly to any requests from CHFS for additional information or documents. CHFS typically allows 10 days to respond. Failing to respond to an information request is one of the most common reasons applications are denied or delayed.
6. Step 6: Wait for the eligibility determination. Standard Kentucky Medicaid applications are decided within 45 days. Pregnancy applications are decided within 15 days under federal expedited-processing rules. If approved, your coverage effective date may be retroactive to the first day of the month you applied. If denied, you have 30 days to request a fair hearing through the CHFS Appeals and Hearings Branch.

Official portal: kynect.ky.gov

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Kentucky driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or other government-issued photo ID)
• Social Security Numbers for every household member applying for Kentucky Medicaid or KCHIP (or proof that an SSN has been applied for)
• Proof of Kentucky residency: a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or bank statement with a Kentucky address, dated within the past 60 days
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, permanent resident card (green card), or other qualifying immigration documents
• Income documentation: last 30 days of pay stubs for wage earners; most recent federal tax return or 12 months of profit-and-loss records for self-employed applicants; current benefit letters for Social Security, SSDI, SSI, VA, or pension income
• Health insurance information: if anyone in the household currently has health insurance, provide the policy number and insurance company name (to determine whether Kentucky Medicaid can coordinate benefits or if the cost-effectiveness test applies)

Processing timeline: Standard Kentucky Medicaid applications are decided within 45 days from the date of application. Pregnancy applications are processed within 15 days under federal expedited-processing rules. Disability and long-term care applications may take 60 to 90 days because they require a separate medical determination of functional need. If approved, coverage may be retroactive to the first day of the application month.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the applicable threshold: the household's MAGI income exceeds 138% FPL for expansion adults, 147% FPL for children ages 1-18, or 200% FPL for pregnant women and infants. This is the most common single reason for denial.
• Failure to respond to a 10-day document request: CHFS sends a notice if additional documents are needed; applicants who do not respond within the deadline are typically denied, though they can reapply immediately.
• Kentucky residency not verified: applicants must demonstrate they live in Kentucky with a current document bearing a Kentucky address. P.O. boxes alone are not accepted as proof of residency.
• Citizenship or immigration status not verified: applicants who cannot provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or a qualifying immigration category at the time of application will be denied, though they may reapply once documentation is available.
• Age or categorical ineligibility: applicants outside the covered age ranges or categories (for example, a childless adult age 19-64 would typically qualify under expansion, but someone who is 65 or older without a qualifying disability may need to apply under the aged Medicaid category with an SSI-based income and asset test rather than MAGI).

If your child's family income is above the Kentucky Medicaid limit: KCHIP

KCHIP, the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program, covers uninsured children under age 19 in families with income between the Kentucky Medicaid children's limit and 218% of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2026, 218% FPL equals approximately $34,793 per year for a household of 1 or approximately $71,940 per year for a household of 4. KCHIP is administered by CHFS and uses the same kynect application as Kentucky Medicaid. Families apply once; kynect determines which program the child qualifies for based on household income. KCHIP premiums are low (free for families below 150% FPL; nominal monthly premiums for higher income families). KCHIP covers routine checkups, immunizations, dental, vision, prescriptions, and emergency care.

Compare KCHIP and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

If you have Medicare and limited income: Kentucky Medicare Savings Programs

Kentucky administers three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Kentuckians who have Medicare. These programs help cover Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program covers Medicare Part A and Part B premiums plus all cost-sharing (deductibles, copayments, coinsurance) for individuals with income at or below approximately 100% FPL ($15,960 per year for a single person in 2026) and resources at or below $9,950. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program covers the Medicare Part B premium for individuals with income between 100% and 120% FPL. The Qualifying Individual (QI) program covers the Part B premium for those with income between 120% and 135% FPL, on a first-come, first-served basis. All three MSP programs automatically qualify enrollees for full Part D Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy), eliminating drug plan premiums and deductibles. Kentucky MSP applications go through kynect at kynect.ky.gov or through CHFS at 855-459-6328.

Learn about Medicare eligibility and dual-eligible plans

Frequently Asked Questions