Wyoming Medicaid Income Limits (2026)

Wyoming Medicaid is among the most limited Medicaid programs in the United States because Wyoming chose not to adopt the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. Unlike the 40 states and Washington D.C. that expanded Medicaid to cover adults at up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), Wyoming still operates under pre-ACA eligibility rules that exclude most non-elderly, non-disabled adults without children entirely. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a household of four in the 48 contiguous states. Wyoming Medicaid is administered by the Wyoming Department of Health Division of Healthcare Financing, which contracts with Medicaid providers through the Wyoming Medicaid portal at wyomingmedicaid.com.

Wyoming Medicaid eligibility divides into four main population groups in 2026. First, parent and caretaker adults with dependent children qualify at up to 56% FPL, a threshold that covers the cost of very basic household needs and leaves little margin. Second, pregnant women qualify at up to 159% FPL and receive coverage through 12 months postpartum under Wyoming's extended postpartum Medicaid policy enacted following a 2023 legislative session. Third, children under 19 qualify for Medicaid up to 133% FPL for ages 6 to 18 and 154% FPL for infants and children ages 0 to 5, with Wyoming Kid Care CHIP extending coverage to 205% FPL for children whose family income exceeds the Medicaid threshold. Fourth, aged, blind, and disabled adults qualify under SSI-linked rules, with a $2,000 individual asset limit and the 60-month lookback for long-term care. Adults without dependent children who are not pregnant, disabled, or 65 or older have no pathway under Wyoming Medicaid.

The household-size table below shows 2026 Wyoming Medicaid income limits across three covered populations. The adult column reflects the 56% FPL parent and caretaker limit, which applies only to adults with dependent children. The children column shows the 133% FPL threshold used for children ages 6 to 18. The pregnancy column shows the 159% FPL threshold for pregnant women. If your family income exceeds the children's Medicaid limit but falls below 205% FPL, your child may still qualify for Wyoming Kid Care CHIP. If your income exceeds all Medicaid limits and you have no employer coverage, ACA marketplace plans through HealthCare.gov are available for Wyoming residents year-round during qualifying life events.

Wyoming Medicaid income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 Wyoming Medicaid income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = parent/caretaker limit (56% FPL; applies only to adults with dependent children. Childless non-disabled adults are not covered). Children column = standard children's Medicaid ages 6-18 (133% FPL; ages 0-5 qualify at 154% FPL). Pregnancy column = Medicaid for Pregnant Women (159% FPL). Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

Wyoming Medicaid eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, Wyoming Medicaid applicants must satisfy several non-income requirements. These apply across all population groups (adults, children, pregnant women, and aged/blind/disabled), though each group has specific variations. The items below reflect the rules that apply broadly across Wyoming Medicaid categories in 2026.

• Wyoming residency: the applicant must currently live in Wyoming with the intent to remain. There is no minimum length-of-residency requirement. The Department of Health accepts a utility bill, lease agreement, or official mail as proof of Wyoming address.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (after the federal 5-year bar in most cases), refugees, asylees, and certain other lawful immigrants qualify. Undocumented adults do not qualify for full Wyoming Medicaid but may receive emergency Medicaid for immediately life-threatening conditions.
• Social Security Number: required for each household member who is applying for coverage. Members not applying (such as an undocumented parent applying only for a citizen child) do not need to provide an SSN for themselves.
• Adult categorization: adult applicants must belong to a covered category. Wyoming covers parent/caretaker adults with dependent minor children (56% FPL limit), pregnant women (159% FPL), and adults who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled (SSI-linked rules). Non-disabled, non-pregnant adults without dependent children are not covered regardless of income.
• Asset test for MAGI categories (adults, children, pregnant women): no asset test applies under MAGI Medicaid rules. Parents, children, and pregnant women are not subject to a resource or asset limit.
• Asset test for aged/blind/disabled (ABD) Medicaid and long-term care: an asset limit of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple applies to SSI-related categories. The primary home (within the home equity limits), one vehicle, household goods and furnishings, and prepaid burial funds are generally exempt. Long-term care Medicaid has a 60-month (5-year) lookback period for asset transfers.

What income counts for Wyoming Medicaid

Wyoming Medicaid uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for the parent/caretaker, children, and pregnant-women categories. MAGI income is based on the household's projected annual income using federal income-tax definitions. Aged, blind, and disabled adults instead use SSI countable-income rules, which differ significantly from MAGI. The includes and excludes below cover the MAGI categories that apply to the majority of Wyoming Medicaid applicants.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (gross, before payroll taxes and deductions)
• Net self-employment earnings and 1099 / gig-work income (after allowable business expenses, not gross receipts)
• Social Security retirement and SSDI disability benefits (the taxable portion counts as MAGI income; Supplemental Security Income is excluded)
• Unemployment compensation (the full amount received, not just the taxable portion)
• Interest, dividends, and capital gains from investments and savings accounts
• Pension and retirement account distributions (401(k), IRA, annuity withdrawals counted when received)
• Rental income (net of allowable rental-property expenses) and royalty income
• Alimony received under divorce or separation agreements finalized before January 1, 2019 (post-2018 agreements excluded by TCJA)

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are excluded from MAGI income. SSI is a federal means-tested benefit, not taxable income
• Child support received by the household (federal Medicaid MAGI rules exclude child support from income)
• Veterans' benefits, including VA disability compensation, VA pension, and GI Bill education benefits
• Workers' compensation payments received after an on-the-job injury
• TANF and other cash assistance payments from state or federal welfare programs
• Gifts, inheritances, and loan proceeds (not taxable income under federal tax law, therefore not MAGI income)

How to apply for Wyoming Medicaid in Wyoming

Wyoming Medicaid applications go through the Wyoming Eligibility System (WES), the statewide online portal operated by the Wyoming Department of Health Division of Healthcare Financing at wesystem.wyo.gov. The same WES application covers Medicaid, Kid Care CHIP, and food assistance programs. Applicants can apply online, by phone, by mail, by fax, or in person at a Wyoming Department of Health benefits office. The state advises reviewing eligibility requirements before starting an application to avoid common delays.

1. 1. Gather your documents before you start: photo ID or birth certificate, Social Security cards for all household members applying, proof of Wyoming residency (utility bill, lease, or official mail), proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, award letters), and proof of citizenship or immigration status.
2. 2. Create an account or log in at wesystem.wyo.gov. WES allows you to save your application and return to it if you cannot complete it in one session. Alternatively, call 1-855-294-2127 (TTY/TDD: 1-855-329-5204) to apply by phone during business hours.
3. 3. Complete the application by listing every household member, reporting all income sources for the past 30 days, and answering citizenship and residency questions. Be thorough: incomplete or inconsistent answers are among the most common reasons applications are delayed.
4. 4. Attach or upload supporting documents. Paper applications can be submitted by mail to the Wyoming Department of Health Customer Service Center at 3001 E. Pershing Blvd., Suite 125, Cheyenne, WY 82001, by fax to 1-855-329-5205, or by email to wesapplications@wyo.gov.
5. 5. Respond promptly to any requests for additional information from the Department of Health. Failure to respond to a verification request within the allotted window is one of the most common reasons applications are denied.
6. 6. Wait for an eligibility determination notice. Standard Wyoming Medicaid applications can take up to 45 days to process. Pregnancy applications may be expedited. If approved, your Medicaid card and member ID are mailed to your address on file.

Official portal: wesystem.wyo.gov (Wyoming Eligibility System)

Documents needed

• Photo ID (Wyoming driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or tribal ID) for the head of household
• Social Security cards or Social Security Numbers for every household member applying for coverage
• Proof of Wyoming residency: utility bill, lease or rental agreement, or recent official mail addressed to your Wyoming address
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Permanent Resident Card
• Proof of income for the past 30 days for each working household member: pay stubs, award letters from Social Security or unemployment, or a signed self-employment income statement
• For children's applications: proof of age (birth certificate or hospital record) for each child being added to coverage
• For pregnant women: a letter from a healthcare provider confirming the pregnancy and expected due date

Processing timeline: Standard Wyoming Medicaid applications take up to 45 days to process from the date the completed application is received. Pregnancy applications may receive faster review given the time-sensitive nature of maternity care. Long-term care Medicaid applications requiring medical and financial determinations can take longer. If your application is approved, coverage may be backdated up to three months prior to the month of application for some categories.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the population-specific threshold: the most common denial reason. Adults with dependent children at or above 56% FPL, or pregnant women at or above 159% FPL, exceed Wyoming Medicaid income limits.
• Adult without dependent children and not in a covered category: Wyoming does not cover non-disabled, non-pregnant childless adults regardless of income under its non-expansion rules.
• Failure to respond to a verification request: the Department of Health may request additional documents or clarification. Missing the response deadline causes an automatic denial.
• Failure to verify Wyoming residency: applicants without valid address documentation in their name (or in the name of their household head) cannot be confirmed as Wyoming residents.
• Federal 5-year bar for recently arrived lawful permanent residents: most lawful permanent residents must wait five years from their date of entry before qualifying for federally funded Medicaid. Emergency Medicaid is available without the waiting period for life-threatening conditions.

If your child's family income is above the Wyoming Medicaid children's limit

Wyoming Kid Care CHIP covers uninsured children under age 19 whose family income is above the Medicaid threshold but at or below 205% of the Federal Poverty Level, approximately $67,650 per year for a family of four in 2026. Kid Care CHIP provides comprehensive coverage including doctor visits, dental care, vision care, mental health services, and prescriptions. Premiums are low or zero depending on income, and co-pays are minimal. Families who have employer-sponsored insurance available to their child generally cannot use Kid Care CHIP. Children enrolled in Medicaid are automatically checked for continued Medicaid eligibility at renewal before being moved to CHIP. Apply for both programs through the same WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov.

Compare CHIP and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

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

Wyoming runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) covers Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing for individuals with income at or below 100% FPL (approximately $1,330 per month in 2026). Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) covers the Medicare Part B premium for individuals at 100% to 120% FPL. Qualifying Individual (QI) covers the Part B premium for individuals at 120% to 135% FPL. All three programs are administered through Wyoming Medicaid and applied for through the WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov. Approximately 12 million Americans are dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid nationwide, and Wyoming Medicaid serves as payer of last resort for Wyoming dual-eligible residents.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions