MaineCare Income Limits 2026 (Maine Medicaid)

MaineCare is the official name for Maine's Medicaid program, administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office for Family Independence. Maine expanded MaineCare in January 2019 after voters approved a ballot initiative in November 2017, making Maine one of the few states to adopt expansion through direct democracy after the legislature repeatedly declined. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level sets every income threshold on this page: $15,960 for a single person and $32,856 for a household of four in the 48 contiguous states, with each additional person adding $5,680. At 138% of that base, the adult MaineCare threshold is $22,025 for a single adult and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026.

MaineCare is notably more generous for children and families than most New England neighbors. Children under age 21 qualify up to 305% of the Federal Poverty Level, which reaches $100,650 per year for a family of four in 2026. That high children's threshold means that many working- and middle-class Maine families can access MaineCare coverage for their children even if the adults in the household exceed the adult income limit. Pregnant women qualify up to 214% FPL ($70,620 per year for a family of four), and Maine extends pregnancy coverage regardless of immigration status, a state policy that goes further than the federal CHIPRA exemption. MaineCare enrollment runs approximately 400,000 members in 2026, or about 30% of Maine's total population.

Maine residents who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled qualify for MaineCare under different rules tied to Social Security Income (SSI) eligibility, and many qualify for both Medicare and MaineCare as dual-eligible members. For those in long-term care, Maine's nursing home Medicaid has an income threshold of $2,982 per month for an individual in 2026 and an asset limit of $10,000 for a single person ($15,000 for a couple). Maine eliminated the asset test for Medicare Savings Programs in July 2024, meaning Maine seniors can now qualify for QMB, SLMB, and QI programs regardless of how much they have saved. The household-size table below covers the three main MAGI populations; aged, blind, and disabled rules appear in the eligibility requirements section.

MaineCare (Maine Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 MaineCare income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = MaineCare expansion adults ages 19 to 64 (138% FPL, no dependent children required). Children column = MaineCare for children and young adults under 21 (305% FPL, one of the highest thresholds in the country). Pregnancy column = MaineCare for pregnant women (214% FPL, extended regardless of immigration status). Add approximately $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

MaineCare (Maine Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, MaineCare applicants must satisfy several non-income criteria. The specific rules vary by population category (expansion adults, children, pregnant women, aged and disabled adults, long-term care), but the items below apply across MAGI-based categories, which cover the large majority of MaineCare enrollees.

• Maine residency: applicants must live in Maine and intend to remain. There is no minimum duration-of-residence requirement. Homeless applicants may use a shelter or service-provider address.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (subject to a federal 5-year bar for most adults who arrived after August 22, 1996), refugees, and asylees qualify. Maine state policy exempts pregnant women and children under 21 from the 5-year bar and extends full MaineCare coverage to pregnant individuals regardless of immigration status, which goes beyond the minimum federal CHIPRA exemption. As of fall 2026, new federal legislation may affect MaineCare for certain non-citizens; check maine.gov/dhhs for the most current status.
• Social Security Number: required for each applicant requesting coverage. Applicants who cannot provide an SSN due to immigration status may still qualify for emergency MaineCare for life-threatening conditions.
• Household composition: defined under MAGI rules for the expansion adult, parent, child, and pregnancy categories. MAGI household includes the applicant, their spouse, and all dependents claimed on a federal tax return. The aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) category uses SSI household and resource rules.
• Asset test: NOT applied for MAGI-based MaineCare categories (expansion adults, parents, children, pregnant women). Maine eliminated the asset test for MAGI categories when it expanded in 2019. An asset test IS applied for aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) adults; Maine allows $10,000 in assets for a single applicant and $15,000 for a couple in 2026 (above the federal $2,000/$3,000 floor), with the primary home, one vehicle, and certain burial accounts excluded. Maine also eliminated asset limits for Medicare Savings Programs effective July 2024.
• Age and category: MaineCare serves children under 21, adults ages 19 to 64, pregnant women of any age, and aged or disabled adults (65+, or any age if receiving SSI or meeting disability criteria). Young adults ages 19 to 20 are counted under the children's 305% FPL category, not the adult 138% FPL category, which is significantly more favorable.
• Other coverage: MaineCare enrollees are not required to be uninsured. MaineCare coordinates as the payer of last resort when another insurer is the primary payer. Members who have Medicare can qualify for MaineCare as dual-eligible coverage, which can eliminate most Medicare cost-sharing.

What income counts for MaineCare (Maine Medicaid)

MaineCare uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules to determine countable income for expansion adults, children, and pregnant women. MAGI income follows IRS tax definitions, not the older SSI-based rules used before 2014. Maine does not apply a 5% federal disregard separately; instead the 138% FPL threshold published by Maine DHHS already reflects rounding under the federal methodology. Long-term care and aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) categories use different income counting rules that include SSI-related methodologies.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and other W-2 compensation from an employer, including overtime and bonuses.
• Self-employment net earnings after allowable business deductions (reported on Schedule C or Schedule F for farm income).
• Social Security retirement and survivor benefits (taxable portion only, but most recipients count the full gross amount under MAGI methodology since Social Security is not taxed below a base threshold).
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits counted as income. Note: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is excluded, see below.
• Unemployment compensation and state unemployment insurance benefits.
• Interest, dividends, and capital gains distributions from investments, including distributions from IRAs or 401(k) accounts taken as income.
• Pension and annuity income, including defined-benefit retirement plan distributions.
• Alimony received under pre-2019 divorce decrees (pre-TCJA; alimony from agreements finalized after December 31, 2018 is not included in federal taxable income and thus not counted for MAGI).
• Net rental income and royalty income after allowable deductions.

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI payments are not counted as income for MAGI-based MaineCare. SSI recipients are typically automatically enrolled in MaineCare under the ABD pathway.
• Child support received: payments received for the support of a child are excluded from MAGI income.
• Veterans' benefits: VA disability compensation, pension, GI Bill education benefits, and survivor benefits are excluded from MAGI income.
• Workers' compensation payments for job-related illness or injury.
• SNAP (food stamps) benefits, TANF cash assistance, and most other means-tested public benefits.
• Tax refunds and tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit.
• Gifts, inheritances, and one-time lump-sum payments that are not recurring income.
• Loan proceeds (student loans, personal loans, home equity loans) are not income.

How to apply for MaineCare (Maine Medicaid) in Maine

MaineCare applications are processed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office for Family Independence (OFI). The same application captures MaineCare, SNAP, TANF, and other benefit programs. You can apply online through My Maine Connection or coverme.gov, by mail, by fax, by email, or in person at any DHHS district office. MaineCare has no open-enrollment period for most categories: you can apply any time of year, and coverage may begin the month you apply or the month you were determined eligible.

1. 1. Gather your documents before starting: photo ID, Social Security cards for each household member, proof of Maine residency (utility bill, lease, or mail at your address), proof of income (last 30 days of pay stubs or most recent tax return), and proof of citizenship or immigration status.
2. 2. Submit your application online at mymaineconnection.gov, through coverme.gov, by mail to Office for Family Independence (114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, ME 04938), by fax to (207) 778-8429, by email to Farmington.DHHS@Maine.gov, or in person at your nearest Maine DHHS district office.
3. 3. List every household member, report all income accurately, and attach or upload supporting documents. Incomplete applications are the most common reason for processing delays.
4. 4. Respond promptly to any OFI requests for additional information. OFI may send a written request for clarifying documents; failure to respond within the specified timeframe (typically 10 to 30 days) can result in denial of your application.
5. 5. Receive your eligibility determination notice in the mail. If approved, you will receive a MaineCare member ID card and information about your assigned managed care plan. If denied, the notice will explain the reason and your right to appeal within 30 days.
6. 6. If you need help applying, call Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) at 1-800-965-7476 for free local assistance from a trained MaineCare assister, or call OFI directly at 1-855-797-4357.

Official portal: mymaineconnection.gov

Documents needed

• Photo identification for the head of household (Maine driver's license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued photo ID).
• Social Security Numbers or cards for every household member applying for coverage.
• Proof of Maine residency: utility bill, current lease or mortgage statement, or a piece of official mail addressed to you at your Maine address.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, permanent resident card (green card), refugee documentation, or other USCIS-issued document.
• Proof of income for the last 30 days: pay stubs for employed applicants; profit-and-loss statement or 12 months of bank statements for self-employed applicants; award letters for Social Security, SSI, pension, or unemployment benefits.
• Most recent federal tax return (Form 1040) if available, or a signed statement that no return was filed.
• For pregnant women: documentation of pregnancy from a healthcare provider (a letter or prenatal visit records confirming the pregnancy and expected due date).

Processing timeline: Standard MaineCare applications are decided within 45 days of submission. Pregnancy applications receive priority processing under federal rules and are typically decided within 15 days. Applications for aged, blind, and disabled adults (ABD/SSI-related categories) may take up to 60 to 90 days because a medical determination is required. If 46 or more days have passed since you applied with no determination, you have the right to request a hearing from OFI.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the applicable threshold for the applicant's population category (the most common single reason for denial).
• Failure to respond to OFI's written request for additional documentation within the specified timeframe.
• Failure to verify Maine residency: OFI requires at least one document showing your name and a Maine address.
• Federal 5-year bar for certain lawful permanent residents who entered the U.S. after August 22, 1996 (does not apply to refugees, asylees, pregnant women, or children under 21).
• Assets over the limit for aged, blind, or disabled adult applicants (the $10,000 single / $15,000 couple ABD asset threshold applies; MAGI categories have no asset test).

If your child's income is above the MaineCare children's limit

MaineCare already covers children under 21 at 305% of the Federal Poverty Level, one of the highest children's thresholds in the United States. At 305% FPL, a family of four can earn up to $100,650 per year in 2026 and still qualify for MaineCare for their children. For children whose family income exceeds that threshold, Maine does not maintain a separate stand-alone CHIP program (CubCare was folded into Medicaid-expansion-funded MaineCare coverage). Families above 305% FPL should explore ACA marketplace plans through coverme.gov; children on marketplace plans may be eligible for a subsidy if family income is between 138% and 400% FPL. Check the national Medicaid income limits page to compare children's limits across all 50 states.

Compare MaineCare and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

If you are 65 or older with limited income: Maine Medicare Savings Programs

Maine administers three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program pays Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and copayments for individuals with income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $1,330 per month in 2026). The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program pays the Part B premium for individuals with income between 100% and 120% FPL. The Qualifying Individual (QI) program pays the Part B premium for individuals with income between 120% and 135% FPL. Maine eliminated the asset test for all three MSP tiers effective July 2024, so Maine beneficiaries can qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI regardless of savings or property. Dual-eligible individuals (who qualify for both Medicare and MaineCare) typically have $0 out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services. Apply for MSPs through the Maine DHHS Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 or online at mymaineconnection.gov.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions