Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) Income Limits 2026

Green Mountain Care is the official name for Vermont's Medicaid program, run by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) under a federal Section 1115 demonstration waiver called the Global Commitment to Health. Vermont adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion on January 1, 2014, making the state one of the early expanders covering adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. The 2026 FPL anchor for the 48 contiguous states is $15,960 for a household of one, increasing by $5,680 for each additional member. At 138%, the adult Green Mountain Care threshold is $22,020 per year ($1,835 per month) for a single Vermonter, or $45,540 per year ($3,795 per month) for a family of four.

Vermont children under age 19 qualify for Dr. Dynasaur, Vermont's nationally recognized children's health program that has been covering kids since 1989 and now operates as a combined Medicaid/CHIP program. Dr. Dynasaur sets one of the highest income thresholds for children's coverage in the country: 317% FPL in 2026, which equals $104,604 per year ($8,717 per month) for a family of four. No asset test applies to Dr. Dynasaur, monthly premiums are currently suspended indefinitely, and federal rules require 12 months of continuous enrollment for children (effective January 2024). Pregnant individuals qualify for Green Mountain Care at up to 213% FPL ($70,284 per year, or $5,857 per month, for a family of four), with postpartum coverage extending 12 months after delivery under current Vermont policy.

Vermont also covers aged, blind, and disabled residents through Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MABD), with income thresholds set at $1,375 per month outside Chittenden County or $1,483 per month inside Chittenden County for 2026. Long-term care Medicaid (nursing home and Choices for Care waiver) uses a separate income test capped at $2,982 per month for a single applicant, with a $2,000 asset limit. Vermont Medicaid's Global Commitment to Health waiver also created new coverage groups in recent years, including a Substance Use Disorder group covering individuals from 133% to 225% FPL who might otherwise fall outside standard coverage. Vermont Legal Aid (vtlegalaid.org) provides free help navigating denials and appeals under Green Mountain Care.

Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) income limits 2026 by household size. Adult column = 138% FPL (standard ACA expansion threshold). Children column = Dr. Dynasaur at 317% FPL. Pregnant individuals column = 213% FPL with 12-month postpartum coverage. Figures apply to the 48 contiguous states FPL base.

Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) has several non-income eligibility requirements in addition to the income limits shown in the table above. Vermont residents must meet all of the criteria below to qualify for a MAGI-based coverage group (adults, children, pregnant individuals). Aged, blind, and disabled residents use a separate eligibility track through MABD with an asset test.

• Vermont residency: Applicants must live in Vermont. Vermont does not require applicants to have lived in the state for a minimum period; you can qualify on the day you establish Vermont residency with a verifiable address. Documentation such as a utility bill, lease agreement, or a statement from the person you live with is accepted.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and most lawful permanent residents (after the standard federal 5-year bar for LPRs who entered after August 22, 1996) qualify. Vermont covers certain non-citizen populations through state-funded programs where federal law bars Medicaid coverage, including through the IHIP (Individuals with High Immigration Priority) program.
• Age and category: Adults ages 19 to 64 qualify under the standard ACA expansion group (138% FPL). Children under age 19 qualify under Dr. Dynasaur (317% FPL). Pregnant individuals qualify at 213% FPL. Adults age 65 or older qualify through MABD, which uses a separate income test. Young adults ages 19 and 20 were added to Dr. Dynasaur effective January 1, 2026, under Act 113 of 2024.
• Social Security Number (SSN): Applicants must provide an SSN or apply for one as part of the application. Children and pregnant individuals may qualify for emergency Medicaid without an SSN if they are otherwise eligible. Vermont's DVHA verifies SSNs electronically with the Social Security Administration.
• Asset test (MAGI groups): No asset test applies to the standard MAGI-based Green Mountain Care categories, which cover most adults, children, and pregnant individuals. This means savings accounts, retirement funds, and property (other than income they generate) are not counted for eligibility in these groups. The asset test only applies to MABD (aged, blind, disabled) and long-term care Medicaid, where the individual asset limit is $2,000.
• Other insurance: Having employer-sponsored insurance or Medicare does not automatically disqualify a person from Green Mountain Care. Vermont allows Medicaid to coordinate benefits with other coverage, and dual-eligible beneficiaries (those qualifying for both Medicare and Medicaid) may receive both. Medicaid is always the payer of last resort when other coverage exists.

What income counts for Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid)

Green Mountain Care uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules to count income for the standard adult, children, and pregnancy coverage groups. MAGI is based on federal tax-filing definitions, meaning the same categories of income that appear on a federal 1040 form are counted here. Vermont does not apply a separate state-specific income disregard on top of the federal MAGI rules, though the posted 138% FPL threshold for adults already reflects standard federal guidance. The following types of income are included or excluded from the Green Mountain Care MAGI calculation.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and other W-2 compensation (gross, before taxes or deductions)
• Net self-employment income (after deducting business expenses on Schedule C or Schedule F)
• Social Security retirement and survivor benefits (taxable portion only for MAGI; however, Vermont counts the full gross Social Security benefit for Medicaid, consistent with federal MAGI guidance for Medicaid)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit payments (counted as income for MAGI)
• Unemployment compensation and state unemployment benefits
• Interest and dividend income (both taxable and tax-exempt interest)
• Capital gains from sales of assets (reported on Schedule D)
• Pension, retirement, and annuity distributions (taxable portion)
• Rental income net of expenses (reported on Schedule E)
• Alimony received under divorce or separation instruments executed before January 1, 2019 (post-2018 alimony is not includable under TCJA rules)

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments: SSI is explicitly excluded from MAGI income and is also excluded from the Vermont MABD income calculation separately.
• Child support received: child support payments received by a household member are not counted as MAGI income.
• Veterans Administration (VA) disability compensation, pension, and GI Bill benefits: all forms of VA income are excluded from MAGI.
• Workers' compensation benefits received after a workplace injury.
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash assistance and most other means-tested public benefits.
• Gifts, inheritances, and one-time lump-sum payments that are not recurring income.
• Loan proceeds (student loans, personal loans, home equity loans): borrowing money is not income.

How to apply for Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) in Vermont

Green Mountain Care applications go through Vermont Health Connect, the state's integrated health coverage portal operated by the Agency of Human Services. Vermont uses a single application that covers Medicaid (Green Mountain Care), Dr. Dynasaur (children), the MABD program, Choices for Care long-term care, and commercial qualified health plans on the marketplace. Vermonters can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a district office. The primary online portal is my.vermont.gov.

1. 1. Gather your documents before starting: photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport), Social Security Numbers for all household members, proof of Vermont residency (utility bill, lease, or mailing address), proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, most recent tax return, or a letter from your employer), and documentation of immigration status if applicable.
2. 2. Go to my.vermont.gov and log in or create an account. Select 'Health Coverage' from the program options and complete the application for all household members who need coverage. The same form handles Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, MABD, and marketplace plans.
3. 3. Complete the application: list every household member, report all income sources accurately, and respond to all eligibility questions. Vermont Health Connect will automatically determine which program (Green Mountain Care Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, or marketplace plan) each household member qualifies for based on income and age.
4. 4. Submit supporting documents electronically through the portal or mail them to: Vermont Health Connect, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8100. You can also fax documents to 802-879-5651 or drop them off at a local district office.
5. 5. Respond to any requests for additional information from DVHA within the stated deadline. Failure to respond to a request for information is the most common reason Green Mountain Care applications are denied or delayed.
6. 6. Receive your eligibility determination notice by mail or through the my.vermont.gov portal. Most standard Medicaid applications are decided within 45 days. If you are approved, your coverage is effective the first day of the month in which you applied (or as specified in your notice). If you are denied, you have 90 days to file an appeal.

Official portal: my.vermont.gov (Vermont Health Connect)

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Vermont driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security Number for every household member applying for coverage (or documentation of SSN application in progress)
• Proof of Vermont residency: utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or a signed statement from the person you live with
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or immigration court documents
• Income documentation: last 30 days of pay stubs for employees; last 12 months of business records or most recent federal tax return for self-employed individuals; award letters for Social Security, unemployment, or pension income
• Most recent federal income tax return (or a signed declaration that none was filed) to verify annual household income

Processing timeline: Standard Green Mountain Care applications are decided within 45 days of receiving a complete application. Pregnancy applications are decided within 15 days under federal expedited-processing rules. Disability-related MABD applications can take up to 60 days because they require a medical determination. If DVHA needs additional information, they will contact you; failing to respond within the requested timeframe will delay or deny your application. Coverage, if approved, generally starts the first day of the month you applied.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Household income above the applicable Green Mountain Care threshold for your coverage category (138% FPL for adults, 317% FPL for children, 213% FPL for pregnant individuals).
• Failure to provide requested documentation within the deadline, including income verification, proof of residency, or immigration status documents.
• Not a Vermont resident or unable to verify a Vermont address at the time of the eligibility determination.
• Federal 5-year bar for lawful permanent residents who entered the United States after August 22, 1996 (applies only to certain immigrants; some categories are exempt and Vermont covers some non-citizens through state-funded IHIP program).
• Applying as an adult age 65 or older through the wrong application pathway: adults 65-plus must qualify through MABD (which has a different income test and an asset limit of $2,000 for individuals), not through the standard adult expansion group.

If your child's income is above the Green Mountain Care Medicaid limit

Vermont does not operate a separate standalone CHIP program for children above the standard Medicaid threshold. Instead, Vermont runs Dr. Dynasaur as a combined Medicaid/CHIP program that sets a single generous income limit of 317% FPL ($104,604 per year, or $8,717 per month, for a family of four in 2026). Because both Medicaid and CHIP-funded coverage are delivered through Dr. Dynasaur with no premium currently charged, most Vermont families with children never hit an upper income ceiling below 317% FPL. Families with income above 317% FPL may qualify for coverage through Vermont Health Connect's commercial plans, which offer federal premium tax credits for households between 100% and 400% FPL (using the 2025 FPL benchmark for 2026 marketplace plan eligibility).

Compare Medicaid and CHIP income limits across all 50 states

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

Vermont significantly expanded its Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) beginning January 1, 2026, under Acts 113 and 27 of 2024-2025. Vermont now covers the QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) program up to 150% FPL, up from the prior 100% FPL federal floor. Vermont also expanded QI-1 (Qualifying Individual) coverage to 202% FPL, up from 135% FPL. These increases are estimated to make more than 14,000 additional Vermonters eligible for MSPs, with an estimated combined annual benefit value of $67.8 million. Vermont MSPs have no asset limit, meaning only income is tested. QMB pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for individuals up to 150% FPL. QI-1 pays the Part B premium for individuals at 150-202% FPL. Vermont eliminated the SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) program effective December 31, 2025; former SLMB members were automatically transitioned to QMB. Dual-eligible Vermonters who qualify for both Medicare and Green Mountain Care receive coordination of benefits through the Medicare-Medicaid alignment process.

Read the Medicare eligibility and savings programs guide

Frequently Asked Questions