Pregnancy Medicaid by State 2026: Income Limits and How to Apply

Full answer: Federal law requires every state to cover pregnant women at a minimum of 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL), which equals about $21,233 per year for a single person in 2026. Most states go far above that floor: the median threshold across all states is roughly 200 to 218% FPL, and states like New York (218%), Georgia (220%), Wisconsin (301%), and the District of Columbia (319%) are substantially more generous. Coverage includes prenatal visits, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and 60 days minimum of postpartum Medicaid; 49 states plus DC have extended postpartum coverage to a full 12 months as of 2026, with Arkansas the only holdout. Newborns of Medicaid-covered mothers are automatically enrolled for their first year of life.

Medicaid pays for more than 4 in 10 births in the United States. If you are pregnant, you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage regardless of your immigration status, whether your state expanded Medicaid, or whether you are working. Every state runs a pregnancy-specific Medicaid pathway with an income limit set at or above the federal floor.

This guide covers the 2026 income thresholds for all 50 states, what pregnancy Medicaid covers, the 12-month postpartum extension, the CHIP perinatal option for higher-income families, and how to apply. The dollar figures below use the 2025 federal poverty guidelines that govern 2026 Medicaid determinations ($15,650 for a household of one).

Coverage Breakdown

Coverage by type
State	Pregnancy Medicaid Limit (% FPL)	Postpartum Extension	CHIP Perinatal Option
California (Medi-Cal)	208% FPL	12 months	Yes (up to 317% FPL)
New York	218% FPL	12 months	Yes (up to 400% FPL)
Texas	198% FPL	12 months	Yes, CHIP Perinatal (up to 202% FPL)
Florida	191% FPL	12 months	No separate CHIP perinatal
Georgia	220% FPL	12 months	No separate CHIP perinatal
Illinois	208% FPL	12 months	No separate CHIP perinatal
Pennsylvania	215% FPL	12 months	Yes (up to 314% FPL)
Ohio	200% FPL	12 months	No separate CHIP perinatal
Washington (Apple Health)	210% FPL	12 months	No separate CHIP perinatal
Arkansas	209% FPL	60 days only (no 12-month extension as of 2026)	Yes (up to 209% FPL via CHIP)
Wisconsin	301% FPL	12 months (extension passed Feb 2026)	Yes (up to 301% FPL via CHIP)
District of Columbia	319% FPL	12 months	Yes (up to 319% FPL)

FPL percentages are MAGI-adjusted as of January 2025 (MACPAC Exhibit 35, February 2026). Effective limits may be up to 5 percentage points higher due to the standard income disregard. All states cover a minimum 133% FPL. Arkansas is the only state not offering a 12-month postpartum extension as of May 2026.

Source: MACPAC, MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book, Exhibit 35, February 2026

What Pregnancy Medicaid Covers

Pregnancy Medicaid is a separate eligibility category from regular adult Medicaid. For coverage details, see does Medicaid cover pregnancy. You can qualify even if you would not qualify for standard Medicaid. Coverage begins as soon as your eligibility is approved and covers the full period of pregnancy plus a postpartum period.

Federal law (42 CFR 440.210) requires pregnancy Medicaid to cover these services at minimum:

Prenatal visits, labs, and ultrasounds
Labor and delivery (vaginal and cesarean)
Hospital stays related to the pregnancy
Prescription drugs for the pregnancy
Postpartum visits for at least 60 days (12 months in 49 states plus DC)
Family planning services and supplies
Mental health and substance use treatment (most states)
Doula services (growing number of states including CA, NY, IL, OR, MN)

The 12-Month Postpartum Extension: State-by-State Status

Before the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), states were only required to provide Medicaid coverage for 60 days after delivery. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, see does the ACA cover pregnancy for ACA marketplace options. ARPA created a state option to extend that to 12 months. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 made that option permanent. As of May 2026, 49 states plus DC have implemented the 12-month postpartum extension. Arkansas is the only remaining state that still ends postpartum Medicaid at 60 days.

Wisconsin passed its 12-month postpartum extension in February 2026 with a 95-1 vote in the state Assembly. Arkansas has had legislation proposed but it stalled in committee. A new bill is expected in the 2027 regular session. If you deliver in Arkansas, your Medicaid ends 60 days after your delivery date unless you qualify for another Medicaid category on your own.

CHIP Perinatal: Coverage for Unborn Children of Higher-Income Families

Some states use a separate CHIP funding pathway to cover the unborn child (rather than the mother) when the mother's income is too high for pregnancy Medicaid but still within CHIP limits. This is called the CHIP perinatal or unborn child option. The mother receives limited prenatal and delivery coverage through this pathway even if she is not herself Medicaid-eligible.

Texas is the largest state with a CHIP perinatal program. Texas covers the unborn child up to 202% FPL via CHIP Perinatal when the mother does not qualify for pregnancy Medicaid. New York's CHIP covers unborn children up to 400% FPL. California's separate CHIP program covers up to 317% FPL. Once born, the child automatically qualifies for 12 months of Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

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Newborn Auto-Enrollment and What Happens After Delivery

Federal law guarantees that any child born to a mother covered by Medicaid at the time of delivery is automatically enrolled in Medicaid for the first year of life. No separate application is needed for the newborn. This is called deemed newborn eligibility. The child's Medicaid coverage runs for 12 full months from birth regardless of any changes in the mother's income or household situation.

After the postpartum period ends (either 60 days in Arkansas or 12 months in all other states plus DC), the mother must re-qualify for Medicaid under a different category or seek other coverage. In the 40 states plus DC that have expanded Medicaid, many mothers will still qualify at up to 138% FPL as adults. In the 10 non-expansion states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY), postpartum coverage ends abruptly unless the mother qualifies under a separate category such as disability or SSI. Note: Wisconsin expanded Medicaid in 2024, so this list may shift.

Income Eligibility for Large Families: How FPL Scales

Your household size matters. See Medicaid income limits for the full FPL tables. When applying for pregnancy Medicaid, the unborn child counts as a household member, which increases the income limit. A pregnant woman with no other dependents counts as a household of 2. A pregnant woman with one child counts as a household of 3, and so on. Each additional household member adds roughly $7,238 to the annual income limit at 133% FPL, or more depending on your state's threshold.

Income is measured as Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) under the rules that became mandatory in 2014. MAGI for Medicaid generally means your gross income from all sources minus certain deductions (student loan interest, IRA contributions) but before itemized deductions. It does not count assets or resources. You can qualify for pregnancy Medicaid even if you own a home or car.

State-by-State Pregnancy Medicaid Thresholds: All 50 States

The table below shows the combined Medicaid and CHIP income eligibility limit for pregnant women in each state as of January 2025 (MACPAC Exhibit 35, February 2026 data book). These are the thresholds that apply to 2026 Medicaid determinations. States marked with a CHIP column figure use CHIP perinatal funding for mothers above the Medicaid threshold.

Pregnancy Medicaid and CHIP Combined Income Limits by State, 2025 Data (Applied 2026)
State	Medicaid Limit (% FPL)	CHIP Perinatal Limit (% FPL)
Alabama	141%	312%
Alaska	225%	None
Arizona	156%	None
Arkansas	209%	209% (CHIP-funded)
California	208%	317% (CHIP-funded)
Colorado	195-260%	260%
Connecticut	258%	258% (CHIP-funded)
Delaware	212%	None
District of Columbia	319%	319% (CHIP-funded)
Florida	191%	None
Georgia	220%	None
Hawaii	191%	None
Idaho	133%	None
Illinois	208%	208% (CHIP-funded)
Indiana	208%	None
Iowa	215%	None
Kansas	166%	None
Kentucky	195-213%	None
Louisiana	133%	209% (CHIP-funded)
Maine	209%	208% (CHIP-funded)
Maryland	259%	259% (CHIP-funded)
Massachusetts	200%	200% (CHIP-funded)
Michigan	195%	None
Minnesota	278%	278% (CHIP-funded)
Mississippi	194%	None
Missouri	196-300%	300% (CHIP-funded)
Montana	157%	None
Nebraska	194%	None
Nevada	200%	None
New Hampshire	196%	None
New Jersey	194-200%	None
New Mexico	250%	None
New York	218%	400% (CHIP-funded)
North Carolina	196%	None
North Dakota	170%	None
Ohio	200%	None
Oklahoma	205%	205% (CHIP-funded)
Oregon	185%	185% (CHIP-funded)
Pennsylvania	215%	314% (CHIP-funded)
Rhode Island	190-253%	253% (CHIP-funded)
South Carolina	194%	None
South Dakota	133%	133% (CHIP-funded)
Tennessee	250%	250% (CHIP-funded)
Texas	198%	202% (CHIP Perinatal)
Utah	139%	None
Vermont	208%	None
Virginia	143-200%	200% (CHIP-funded)
Washington	210%	None
West Virginia	185-300%	300% (CHIP-funded)
Wisconsin	301%	301% (CHIP-funded)
Wyoming	154%	None

Source: MACPAC Exhibit 35, February 2026 (data as of January 2025). Percentages reflect MAGI-converted eligibility levels. Effective limits may be 5 percentage points higher due to the standard income disregard. 'None' means the state does not use a separate CHIP perinatal pathway; the Medicaid limit already applies to the combined category.

Source: MACPAC, MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book, Exhibit 35, February 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in 2026?

The federal minimum income limit for pregnancy Medicaid is 133% FPL, which equals about $1,769 per month ($21,233 per year) for a single person using 2025 FPL guidelines. Most states are far more generous: the median state threshold is around 200 to 218% FPL. New York covers up to 218% FPL, Georgia up to 220%, and DC up to 319%. Check your state in the table above for the exact threshold.

Does the unborn baby count toward household size for Medicaid?

Yes. When you apply for pregnancy Medicaid, the unborn child counts as a member of your household. A pregnant woman with no other dependents counts as a household of 2. This raises your income limit. For example, at 200% FPL, a household of 2 qualifies up to roughly $4,285 per month, compared to $2,655 per month for a household of 1.

Can I get pregnancy Medicaid if I am undocumented?

Medicaid law requires states to cover emergency services (including labor and delivery) for undocumented immigrants. This is called Emergency Medicaid. Additionally, most states cover prenatal care through CHIP perinatal for the unborn child even if the mother is undocumented. A handful of states, including California, New York, and Illinois, also provide full pregnancy coverage to undocumented women using state funds.

How long does pregnancy Medicaid last after delivery?

In 49 states plus DC, pregnancy Medicaid extends for 12 full months after delivery as of 2026. Arkansas is the only exception: postpartum coverage ends at 60 days after delivery. In all other states, your coverage continues through the 12-month postpartum period regardless of income changes. Your baby is automatically covered for its first 12 months of life in every state.

Can I apply for pregnancy Medicaid if I already have private insurance?

Yes. Pregnancy Medicaid can act as secondary coverage if you have private insurance, covering out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments. Many families find that adding pregnancy Medicaid eliminates nearly all out-of-pocket costs for prenatal care and delivery. Apply as soon as you confirm pregnancy, regardless of your current coverage.

What is CHIP Perinatal and how is it different from pregnancy Medicaid?

CHIP Perinatal (also called the unborn child option) is a CHIP-funded coverage pathway used by some states to cover the unborn child of a pregnant woman whose income is too high for Medicaid but still within CHIP limits. The mother herself may receive limited pregnancy services through this coverage. Texas uses CHIP Perinatal extensively, covering unborn children up to 202% FPL. New York's CHIP covers unborn children up to 400% FPL.

Will my baby automatically be enrolled in Medicaid?

Yes. Under federal law, any child born to a mother enrolled in Medicaid at the time of delivery is automatically enrolled in Medicaid for the first full year of life. This is called deemed newborn eligibility. No separate application is required. The child's Medicaid runs for 12 months from birth regardless of changes in the family's income or Medicaid status.

Can I get retroactive coverage for prenatal care I already received?

Most states allow pregnancy Medicaid to be backdated up to 3 months before the month you apply. This means if you received prenatal care in January but applied in March, coverage can start in October (3 months before the month of application). Ask the Medicaid caseworker explicitly to request retroactive coverage at the time you apply.