Turquoise Care Income Limits in New Mexico (2026)

Turquoise Care covers roughly 888,500 New Mexicans in 2026, about one in four state residents, making it one of the largest single programs in a state where nearly 40% of the population qualifies for some form of public health coverage. New Mexico adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion on January 1, 2014, extending full coverage to adults regardless of whether they have dependent children. The program was previously known as Centennial Care, then Centennial Care 2.0, and officially rebranded as Turquoise Care on July 1, 2024 when the state restructured its managed care contracts and added two new health plan options. The underlying eligibility rules, income thresholds, and 1115 Demonstration Waiver framework remain consistent with prior years. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level, $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, anchors every income threshold on this page.

New Mexico's Turquoise Care income thresholds are more generous than the federal expansion floor in two important respects. First, pregnant women qualify up to 255% of the Federal Poverty Level, $40,698 per year for an individual in 2026, compared to the federal minimum of 138% FPL. Second, New Mexico uses an age-tiered approach for children: children under age 6 qualify up to 305% FPL ($48,678/year for a child in a single-person household), while children ages 6-18 qualify up to 245% FPL ($39,102/year). These thresholds are among the highest for children in the Mountain West region and reflect New Mexico's longstanding commitment to pediatric coverage that predates the ACA. Coverage includes doctor visits, hospital care, mental health and substance use services, dental, vision, and non-emergency medical transportation through one of four managed care organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Presbyterian Health Plan, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico.

New Mexico residents whose income falls above the Turquoise Care adult threshold of 138% FPL but below 400% FPL ($63,840 for a single person in 2026 using 2025 FPL benchmarks for marketplace calculations) may qualify for ACA marketplace subsidies through BeWell New Mexico, the state-run exchange. The 2026 plan year does not include enhanced premium tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, which expired at the end of 2025, so households should budget accordingly when comparing marketplace options against Turquoise Care eligibility. Residents in the 138-400% FPL range with a household member who qualifies for Turquoise Care can submit one application on yes.nm.gov and the system will route each member to the appropriate program.

Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid) income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = expansion-group threshold (138% FPL, covers adults ages 19-64 with or without dependent children). Children column = children ages 6-18 Medicaid threshold (245% FPL); children under age 6 qualify at 305% FPL (approximately $48,678/year for a single child). Pregnancy column = New Mexico Medicaid for Pregnant Women (255% FPL), with 12 months of postpartum coverage. Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member for the adult column.

Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Turquoise Care applicants must meet non-income requirements in addition to the income thresholds shown above. Most New Mexico Medicaid applicants fall into the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) categories, which include expansion adults, parents, children, and pregnant women. A separate set of rules applies to Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) adults and individuals needing long-term care services through the Community Benefit waiver.

• New Mexico residency: the applicant must currently live in New Mexico with the intent to remain. There is no minimum length-of-residence requirement, and individuals experiencing homelessness may use a shelter or service address.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (subject to a federal 5-year bar for most green card holders who arrived after August 22, 1996), refugees, asylees, and certain other qualified non-citizens are eligible. Pregnant women and children are exempt from the 5-year bar under CHIPRA. Undocumented immigrants do not qualify for full Turquoise Care but may receive emergency Medicaid for life-threatening conditions and labor and delivery. New Mexico covers some non-citizen children through state-funded programs and was implementing additional coverage for non-citizens facing federal exclusions as of 2026.
• Social Security Number: required for applicants seeking Turquoise Care for themselves. Applicants who are undocumented or who are applying only on behalf of eligible household members (such as U.S. citizen children) are not required to provide their own SSN.
• Household composition under MAGI rules: the household includes the tax filer, their spouse, and all dependents claimed on the federal tax return. For non-filers, household composition follows IRS tax dependency rules. Children are generally included in the parent's household for income calculations.
• Asset test: NOT applied for MAGI Turquoise Care populations (expansion adults, parents, children, pregnant women). An asset test IS applied for Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) regular Medicaid (generally $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples) and for long-term care (nursing home and Community Benefit waiver), where the individual asset limit is $2,000 and the community spouse resource allowance can be up to $162,660 in 2026.
• Other coverage: Turquoise Care applicants are not required to be uninsured. New Mexico coordinates Turquoise Care as the payer of last resort for members who also have employer-sponsored coverage or Medicare. Individuals who are enrolled in Medicare may also qualify for dual-eligible status and can access specialized Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) through one of the four Turquoise Care managed care organizations.
• Work requirements: New Mexico Medicaid does not impose work requirements as a condition of eligibility for 2026, though beginning January 1, 2027, the state plans to implement work and activity requirements for certain adults ages 19-64. Letters about these changes began going out to members in September 2026.

What income counts for Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid)

Turquoise Care uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for adults, parents, children, and pregnant women, anchored to the household's projected annual income for the current tax year. MAGI is calculated under IRS rules with certain adjustments specific to Medicaid. Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) adults and long-term care applicants use SSI countable-income rules instead, which are narrower and do not include the household-size scaling that MAGI uses. The items below apply to the MAGI populations that cover the vast majority of Turquoise Care applications.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (reported gross, before payroll taxes and pre-tax benefit deductions)
• Net self-employment earnings and independent-contractor (1099) income after allowable business expenses; gig-economy income (rideshare, delivery, freelance) is treated the same way
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security retirement benefits (counted as MAGI income; note that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is excluded)
• Unemployment compensation received from any state or federal unemployment program
• Pensions, annuities, and withdrawals from retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s) reported on Form 1099-R
• Alimony received under divorce or separation decrees executed before January 1, 2019 (post-2018 agreements are excluded under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act)
• Investment income including interest, dividends, and capital gains distributions from any account
• Rental income net of allowable rental expenses (depreciation, maintenance, mortgage interest on the rental property)

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments (SSI is excluded even though SSDI is counted)
• Child support received (federal law prohibits counting child support as MAGI income for Medicaid)
• Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation, VA pension, GI Bill education benefits, and Aid and Attendance benefits
• Federal and state tax refunds, including refundable tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit
• Workers' compensation payments for job-related injury or illness
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, TANF cash assistance, and most other means-tested public benefit payments
• Gifts, loans, and one-time inheritances under MAGI rules (these may be counted as resources rather than income for SSI-related ABD and long-term care categories)

How to apply for Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid) in New Mexico

Turquoise Care applications go through YesNM (yes.nm.gov), the New Mexico state benefits portal run by the Human Services Department. The same portal handles Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and other assistance programs. Residents can apply online, by phone, by mail or fax, or in person at any New Mexico Human Services Department Income Support Division office. After approval, the state enrolls the member in one of the four Turquoise Care managed care organizations and mails an ID card within 7-10 business days.

1. 1. Gather your documents: photo ID for all adults in the household, Social Security cards or numbers for each person applying for coverage, proof of New Mexico residency (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement), proof of citizenship or immigration status, and the most recent 30 days of pay stubs or income records.
2. 2. Go to yes.nm.gov and create an account (or log in if you already have one). Select 'Apply for Benefits' and choose Medicaid/Turquoise Care. Alternatively, call the Medicaid Call Center at 1-888-997-2583 Monday through Friday to start an application by phone or to request a paper form.
3. 3. Complete the application by listing every household member, reporting all income sources for the prior 30 days (or prior year for self-employment), and providing immigration status information for any non-citizen members. The portal pre-screens for Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF in one pass.
4. 4. Upload or mail supporting documents. The portal allows direct document upload. If mailing, send to: Central ASPEN Scanning Area (CASA), PO Box 830, Bernalillo, NM 87004. You can also fax to 1-855-804-8960. Save your case number from the confirmation screen for follow-up calls.
5. 5. Respond promptly to any requests for additional information from HSD. The department typically sends a written notice requesting documents within 10-15 days of receiving an incomplete application. Failing to respond is one of the most common reasons applications are denied.
6. 6. Wait for the eligibility determination notice, which arrives by mail and is also available in your YesNM account. Standard applications are decided within 30-45 days. Pregnant women's applications are decided within 15 days under federal expedited rules. If approved, HSD enrolls you in a Turquoise Care managed care plan and mails an ID card.

Official portal: YesNM (yes.nm.gov)

Documents needed

• Photo ID for each adult applying (New Mexico driver's license, state ID, passport, tribal ID, or military ID)
• Social Security Numbers or cards for every household member requesting coverage
• Proof of New Mexico residency: utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or official mail addressed to the applicant at a New Mexico address
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent resident card (green card), refugee documentation, or asylee approval letter
• Last 30 days of pay stubs from all jobs; for self-employment or 1099 work, the most recent 12 months of income records or the prior year's Schedule C
• Proof of any other income: Social Security award letter, pension or retirement account statement, unemployment benefit letter, or rental income documentation
• For pregnant women: signed statement from a physician, midwife, or clinic confirming pregnancy and the expected due date

Processing timeline: Standard Turquoise Care applications are decided within 30-45 days from the date a complete application is received. Pregnancy applications are decided within 15 days under federal expedited-processing rules, and presumptive eligibility is available at certain qualified entities to begin prenatal coverage immediately while the formal application is processed. Long-term care and Community Benefit waiver applications typically take 60-90 days because they require a medical level-of-care determination by a clinical reviewer in addition to the financial review.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the applicable population threshold: for expansion adults, income over 138% FPL ($22,025/year for a single person in 2026) after the 5% MAGI disregard is the most frequent single reason for denial.
• Failure to respond to an HSD information request within the stated deadline; applicants receive a written notice with a specific response window, and missing the deadline closes the application.
• Residency not verifiable: the applicant's submitted address documents do not match the name on the application or are older than 30 days (most offices require current documents).
• Federal 5-year bar for certain lawful permanent residents who arrived in the U.S. after August 22, 1996. Adults in this category are denied full Turquoise Care during the bar period (emergency Medicaid remains available).
• Duplicate application or active coverage elsewhere: if HSD finds an existing open Medicaid case in the same state or in a state that shares enrollment data, a new application is blocked until the prior case is closed.

If your child's income exceeds the Turquoise Care children's limit

New Mexico's Medicaid income limits for children are among the most generous in the nation. Children under age 6 qualify for Turquoise Care up to 305% FPL ($48,678/year for a single child in 2026), and children ages 6-18 qualify up to 245% FPL ($39,102/year). Above these thresholds and up to 300% FPL, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in New Mexico is delivered through the same Turquoise Care managed care network. This means eligible children above the standard Medicaid income limit can still receive full managed care coverage through a CHIP-funded slot with the same plans and benefits. Families with children in the 245-305% FPL range or above should check eligibility for both programs when applying at yes.nm.gov, as the YesNM portal screens for both Medicaid and CHIP in a single application.

Compare Medicaid and CHIP income limits across all 50 states

If you are 65 or older or have Medicare: Medicare Savings Programs in New Mexico

New Mexico runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, administered through the Turquoise Care system. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and co-payments for individuals with income up to 100% FPL ($15,960/year in 2026) and limited assets. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program pays the Part B premium only 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. New Mexicans who qualify for both Medicare and full Turquoise Care (dual-eligibles) have their costs covered by both programs, with Turquoise Care wrapping around Medicare to cover services Medicare does not pay. Approximately 67,000 New Mexicans are dual-eligible in 2026. Apply for an MSP through the YesNM portal at yes.nm.gov or by calling 1-888-997-2583.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions