Minnesota Medicaid Income Limits (Medical Assistance, 2026)

Medical Assistance is the name Minnesota uses for its Medicaid program, covering approximately 1.1 million Minnesotans as of early 2026. Minnesota expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act on January 1, 2014, extending coverage to adults under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level regardless of parental or disability status. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level is $15,960 for a single person in the 48 contiguous states, rising by $5,680 for each additional household member, so the 138% adult threshold works out to $22,025 for an individual and $45,540 for a family of four. Minnesota also runs MinnesotaCare, a federally authorized Basic Health Program (BHP) that fills the 138% to 200% FPL gap for adults who earn slightly too much for Medical Assistance but still need affordable coverage below the ACA marketplace. MinnesotaCare is a separate program with its own premiums; this page focuses on Medical Assistance (Medicaid) income limits.

Minnesota Medical Assistance eligibility falls into two main tracks. The first is MAGI-based Medical Assistance, which covers adults under 65 (at 138% FPL), children (at 280% to 288% FPL depending on age), pregnant women (at 278% FPL with 12 months of postpartum coverage), and parents or caretaker relatives under the same 138% threshold. MAGI-based categories use Modified Adjusted Gross Income rules from the IRS and carry no asset test. The second track covers aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) adults using SSI-linked income and asset tests: the 2026 individual asset limit is $3,000 for a single person and $6,000 for a couple. Long-term care (nursing home) Medical Assistance uses a separate, higher income disregard and a 60-month lookback on asset transfers, with Minnesota's aggressive estate-recovery program recouping costs from deceased enrollees' estates under state law.

Minnesota Medical Assistance provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, prescription drugs, and long-term services and supports. For most enrollees, coverage is delivered through managed care organizations under contract with DHS. As of early 2026, about 212,000 Minnesotans are enrolled in the expansion population (adults who qualified specifically because of the ACA expansion), out of roughly 1.13 million total Medicaid and CHIP enrollees statewide. The table below shows the 2026 Medical Assistance income limits for adults, children, and pregnant women across all household sizes. If your income falls between 138% and 200% FPL, see the MinnesotaCare section; if your income exceeds 400% FPL, ACA marketplace plans through MNsure are your primary option.

Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid) income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = expansion-group Medical Assistance (138% FPL, covers adults with or without dependent children). Children column = children's Medical Assistance at 280% FPL (ages 1 to 18; infants ages 0 to 1 qualify at 288% FPL). Pregnancy column = Medical Assistance for Pregnant Women at 278% FPL, with 12 months of postpartum coverage. Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Minnesota Medical Assistance eligibility requires meeting both income criteria and non-income criteria. Income thresholds vary by population group (adults at 138% FPL, children at 280% to 288% FPL, pregnant women at 278% FPL) and are based on MAGI rules for most categories. The following non-income criteria apply across all population groups.

• Minnesota residency: You must live in Minnesota with the intent to remain. Temporary absence for education, military service, or work does not end residency. There is no minimum length-of-stay requirement.
• Citizenship and immigration status: U.S. citizens and most qualified immigrants (lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, VAWA holders, and certain other categories) are eligible. A federal 5-year waiting period applies to most newly arrived lawful permanent residents, though Minnesota state funds cover a limited set of lawfully present immigrants during that period.
• Social Security Number: Every household member requesting Medical Assistance must provide a valid Social Security Number, or take steps to apply for one. Members who are not applying for coverage (e.g., an undocumented parent applying only for a qualifying child) do not need to provide their own SSN.
• Household composition: Medical Assistance uses the IRS household composition rules for MAGI categories. Tax filer households include the filer, spouse, and claimed dependents. Non-filer households use physical household members and their income as defined by Medicaid MAGI rules. Household size directly determines which income threshold applies.
• Asset test: MAGI-based Medical Assistance categories (adults, children, pregnant women, and parents) have no asset test. Assets such as savings accounts, vehicles, or property do not affect eligibility for these groups. Asset tests DO apply for aged, blind, and disabled adults under SSI-linked rules ($3,000 for an individual, $6,000 for a couple in 2026) and for long-term care (nursing home) Medical Assistance.
• Other insurance coverage: Having private insurance does not disqualify you from Medical Assistance. Minnesota may coordinate benefits with other coverage. Employer-sponsored insurance that is considered affordable under federal rules may limit eligibility, but DHS applies specific cost-effectiveness tests before denying coverage.
• Age: Children qualify from birth through age 18 at the higher income thresholds. Adults ages 19 to 64 qualify at 138% FPL for expansion coverage. Adults 65 and older qualify under SSI-linked rules or the Long-Term Care pathway. There is no separate age cutoff for adult expansion coverage.

What income counts for Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid)

Minnesota Medical Assistance uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules derived from the Internal Revenue Code to define countable income for MAGI-based eligibility categories. MAGI income includes most taxable income sources and a small set of non-taxable items. A federal 5% income disregard is built into the published thresholds: the formal expansion limit is 133% FPL, and the 5% disregard effectively raises the applied limit to 138% FPL. Minnesota DHS publishes the applied 138% figure as the official threshold in eligibility notices.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, and tips (all W-2 employment earnings): The gross amount before payroll deductions is counted, not net take-home pay.
• Self-employment net earnings (1099 income): Net profit after business expenses is counted. Self-employed applicants should use Schedule SE or Schedule C to document net earnings.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits: Counted in full toward MAGI. Note that SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is different and is excluded (see below).
• Social Security retirement and survivor benefits: Counted toward MAGI, including the taxable portion of Social Security retirement distributions for higher-income beneficiaries.
• Pension distributions, IRA withdrawals, and retirement plan distributions: All taxable pension and retirement distributions count as MAGI income in the year received.
• Unemployment compensation: Taxable unemployment benefits are counted as MAGI income. Minnesota unemployment benefits received are included in full.
• Interest, dividends, and capital gains: All interest income, ordinary dividends, and net capital gains distributions count toward MAGI, whether from bank accounts, investments, or mutual funds.
• Rental income: Net rental income after deductible rental expenses (mortgage interest, property taxes, depreciation, repairs) is counted. Rental losses generally cannot reduce other MAGI income.
• Alimony received under pre-2019 divorce decrees: Alimony or spousal maintenance received under agreements finalized before January 1, 2019, is taxable and counted as MAGI income. Agreements finalized in 2019 or later are not taxable and not counted.

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI cash payments from the Social Security Administration are excluded from MAGI income entirely. SSI is a separate program from SSDI; do not confuse the two.
• Child support received: Child support payments received for dependent children do not count as MAGI income for the recipient household.
• Veterans' benefits: VA disability compensation, pension, educational benefits (GI Bill), and most other VA payments are excluded from MAGI income.
• Workers' compensation: Payments received for work-related injuries or illness are not counted as MAGI income.
• TANF cash assistance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments are excluded from MAGI income.
• Gifts, inheritances, and one-time lump sums: Monetary gifts, inheritances received, and similar one-time amounts are not counted as ongoing MAGI income (though large lump sums may affect asset tests in non-MAGI categories).
• Loan proceeds: Money borrowed (student loans, personal loans, home equity loans) is not income and is excluded from MAGI calculations.

How to apply for Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) in Minnesota

Minnesota Medical Assistance applications go through MNbenefits, the statewide online portal run by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. MNbenefits handles applications for Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP food benefits, and cash assistance programs. You can also apply through MNsure (mn.gov/mnsure), by calling DHS at 1-800-657-3739, by contacting your county or tribal human services office, or by working with a certified MNsure navigator or assister. Minnesota offers in-person help at county offices in all 87 counties.

1. 1. Gather your documents before starting: photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members applying, proof of Minnesota residency (utility bill, lease, or bank statement with current address), proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, employer letter, or self-employment records), and proof of citizenship or immigration status.
2. 2. Create an account at mnbenefits.mn.gov or sign in to MNsure at mnsure.org. Both portals share eligibility information and will route you to the correct program based on your household income and circumstances. If you prefer not to apply online, call 1-800-657-3739 to start a phone application.
3. 3. Complete the application: list every household member and their relationship to you, report all household income for the past 30 days, answer questions about citizenship, residency, and other coverage, and attach or upload supporting documents.
4. 4. Submit the application electronically. Save your confirmation number. DHS will send an acknowledgment letter. If you applied through MNsure, your application is automatically shared with DHS for Medical Assistance review.
5. 5. Respond promptly to any requests for additional information or verification from DHS or your county office. Missing a verification deadline is one of the most common reasons applications are denied or delayed.
6. 6. Wait for the eligibility determination notice. Standard Medical Assistance applications are decided within 45 days. Pregnant women applying for pregnancy Medical Assistance are processed within 15 days under federal expedited rules. Disability applications for the ABD category may take 60 to 90 days because they require a medical-level determination.

Official portal: mnbenefits.mn.gov

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Minnesota driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or Tribal ID card)
• Social Security Numbers or proof of application for an SSN for every household member applying for Medical Assistance coverage
• Proof of Minnesota residency: utility bill, lease or rental agreement, mortgage statement, or bank statement showing a current Minnesota address
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, permanent-resident card (green card), visa, or I-94 form
• Proof of income for the last 30 days: recent pay stubs for all employed household members, employer letter, or Schedule C for the self-employed; most recent tax return if income varies significantly
• For pregnant women: documentation of pregnancy from a health care provider (doctor or midwife letter with estimated due date) and, if applicable, proof of income for the household

Processing timeline: Standard Minnesota Medical Assistance applications are decided within 45 days of the date DHS receives a complete application. Pregnancy Medical Assistance applications must be decided within 15 days under federal expedited rules. Disability-based (ABD) Medical Assistance applications can take 60 to 90 days because they require a functional and medical determination by a state team. If you are denied, you have 90 days to file an appeal with the DHS appeals office.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the applicable threshold: The household's countable MAGI income exceeds 138% FPL for adults or the relevant threshold for children and pregnant women. This is the most common single denial reason in expansion states.
• Failure to provide required verification within the response window: DHS sends a notice requesting documents. Applicants who do not respond within the specified timeframe have their applications denied without a determination on the merits.
• Unable to verify residency: Applicants who cannot document a current Minnesota address with a utility bill, lease, or similar record are denied until documentation is provided.
• Federal 5-year bar for certain newly-arrived lawful permanent residents: Most LPRs who entered the U.S. after August 22, 1996, must wait 5 years before qualifying for federally-funded Medical Assistance. Some may qualify for state-funded emergency coverage during this period.
• Failure to comply with work-requirement or documentation rules: Beginning in 2027, Minnesota plans to implement work activity requirements for expansion adults. In 2026, administrative documentation failures remain the most common procedural denial reason.

If your child's family income is above the Medical Assistance limit for children

Minnesota covers children through Medical Assistance at up to 280% FPL (ages 1 to 18) and 288% FPL for infants under age 1, using Medicaid-funded CHIP (M-CHIP) rather than a separate CHIP program. This means there is no gap between Medicaid and CHIP for Minnesota children: all children's coverage at or below these thresholds flows through Medical Assistance. If a child's household income exceeds 280% to 288% FPL ($92,400 per year for a family of four at 280% FPL in 2026), the family should check MinnesotaCare (for adults earning 138% to 200% FPL) or ACA marketplace plans through MNsure. MinnesotaCare does not cover children on its own; children who exceed the Medical Assistance threshold may qualify for ACA marketplace subsidies if household income is below 400% FPL.

Compare Medicaid and CHIP income limits across all 50 states

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

Minnesota administers four Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that help low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments. The four tiers are: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), which pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums plus cost-sharing for individuals earning up to 100% FPL ($15,960 for an individual in 2026); Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), which pays Part B premiums for individuals earning 100% to 120% FPL; Qualifying Individual (QI), which pays Part B premiums for individuals earning 120% to 135% FPL; and Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI), which pays Part A premiums for certain working disabled individuals up to 200% FPL. Dual-eligible Minnesotans (those enrolled in both Medical Assistance and Medicare) receive coordinated benefits, with Medical Assistance picking up most cost-sharing that Medicare does not cover. Apply for MSPs at mnbenefits.mn.gov or through your county DHS office; eligibility is renewed annually.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide for low-income beneficiaries

Frequently Asked Questions