Skip to content

MassHealth Income Limits 2026: Massachusetts Medicaid

By GrantsightsUpdated 12 official sourcesHow we checkCorrections

Quick Answer: In 2026, MassHealth covers adults 19 to 64 with income up to $1,835.40 a month for one person ($22,025 a year) and $3,795 a month for four ($45,540 a year), using limits that took effect March 1, 2026 and run through February 28, 2027.

Full answer and how we checked it

Children 1 to 18 qualify for MassHealth Standard up to $3,528.83 a month for a family of three, babies and pregnant people up to $4,667.17, and children can get MassHealth Family Assistance up to $6,943.83. Seniors 65 and older use a separate test of $1,330 a month plus a $2,000 asset limit, and home care waivers top out at $2,982 a month. MassHealth updates the poverty-based figures every March 1, and the asset and SSI-based figures on January 1.

This guide is for: Massachusetts residents checking whether they, a child, a pregnant family member or an aging parent can get MassHealth (the state's Medicaid and CHIP program), or one of the state's backup programs, after a job change, a new baby or a denial letter.

Data note: Grantsights checked MassHealth's 2026 Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab) (effective March 1, 2026), the MassHealth program financial guidelines page (opens in a new tab) (last updated October 1, 2026), MassHealth's federal changes page (opens in a new tab), the Health Safety Net patient page (opens in a new tab) and the Health Connector's ConnectorCare rules (opens in a new tab) against the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (opens in a new tab) and the Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) on November 3, 2026. We also compared every dollar figure with the March 2026 upper income table from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), a nonprofit legal services group, and they matched to the cent.

In this guide (11 sections)

Applying is free, and MassHealth is health coverage rather than cash. To compare Massachusetts with other states, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

MassHealth Income Limits by Household Size (March 2026 to February 2027)

MassHealth uses 4 main income bands for people under 65, and the one that applies depends on age and pregnancy rather than on the program name you've heard. MassHealth publishes the base percentages; the table adds the 5% of poverty that MassHealth subtracts from MAGI income, so these are the real cut-offs for gross monthly income before taxes.

Household sizeAdults 19-64, parents, CarePlus (133% + 5% = 138% FPL)Children 1-18 and young adults 19-20 (150% + 5% = 155% FPL)Pregnant people and babies under 1 (200% + 5% = 205% FPL)Family Assistance, children under 19 (300% + 5% = 305% FPL)
1$1,835.40$2,061.50$2,726.50$4,056.50
2$2,488.60$2,795.17$3,696.83$5,500.17
3$3,141.80$3,528.83$4,667.17$6,943.83
4$3,795.00$4,262.50$5,637.50$8,387.50
5$4,448.20$4,996.17$6,607.83$9,831.17
6$5,101.40$5,729.83$7,578.17$11,274.83
7$5,754.60$6,463.50$8,548.50$12,718.50
8$6,407.80$7,197.17$9,518.83$14,162.17
Each additional person+$629.53+$710.00+$946.67+$1,420.00

Sources: percentages from MassHealth's 2026 Income Standards chart and the Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023), which lists Massachusetts at 200% for infants and pregnancy, 150% for children 1 to 18, 300% for CHIP, 133% for parents and expansion adults, and 150% for 19- and 20-year-olds. Grantsights calculated each amount from the 2026 HHS poverty guideline (opens in a new tab) ($15,960 for one person, plus $5,680 for each extra person) and matched them to MLRI's March 1, 2026 table. MassHealth's own chart, which doesn't add the deduction, shows the adult band as $1,769 for one and $3,658 for four.

Yearly equivalents for the main groups

Household sizeAdults 19-64 (138% FPL, yearly)Children 1-18 (155% FPL, yearly)Family Assistance kids (305% FPL, yearly)
1$22,025$24,738$48,678
2$29,863$33,542$66,002
3$37,702$42,346$83,326
4$45,540$51,150$100,650
5$53,378$59,954$117,974
6$61,217$68,758$135,298
7$69,055$77,562$152,622
8$76,894$86,366$169,946

Calculated by Grantsights from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines and rounded to the dollar. MassHealth decides eligibility on current monthly income, so treat the yearly figures as a quick check only.

Seniors, disability and long-term care limits

People 65 and older who live at home are checked under MassHealth Standard's non-MAGI rules, which count assets as well as income. People with disabilities under 65 can use the adult band above or CommonHealth.

MassHealth group (65+, Medicare or disability)2026 monthly income limitCountable assets allowedFigures effective
MassHealth Standard, 65+, 1 person (100% FPL + $20)$1,350$2,000Income 3/1/2026; assets 1/1/2026
MassHealth Standard, 65+, couple (100% FPL + $20)$1,824$3,000Same
QMB (Medicare costs, 190% FPL + $20), 1 / 2 people$2,547 / $3,447None3/1/2026
SLMB (210% FPL + $20), 1 / 2 people$2,813 / $3,807None3/1/2026
QI (225% FPL + $20), 1 / 2 people$3,013 / $4,078None3/1/2026
Home and community-based waivers and PACE (300% of the SSI rate)$2,982$2,0001/1/2026
CommonHealth (adults and children with disabilities)No upper limit; premium above 150% FPLNone listedCurrent
Nursing facility residentIncome goes to the cost of care, minus a $72.80 personal needs allowance$2,0001/1/2026

Sources: MassHealth program financial guidelines (opens in a new tab) for asset limits, the $2,982 figure, the $72.80 allowance and the end of the Medicare Savings Program asset test on March 1, 2024; MassHealth's 2026 Income Standards chart for the 100%, 190% and 225% columns; MLRI's March 2026 table for the $20 deduction and the CommonHealth note.

Get grant deadline alerts by email

About once a week, we email a short list of open grant calls with real deadlines from different funders. It isn't limited to the programs in this guide.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

How MassHealth Counts Your Income

MassHealth runs 2 counting systems, and which one you get depends on your age and the coverage you need.

MAGI rules apply to children, young adults, parents and caretakers, pregnant people and adults under 65. Income is based on the federal tax definition, so wages, net self-employment income, unemployment pay and taxable Social Security count. Your household usually matches your tax return: you, a spouse and the dependents you claim. A pregnant person counts the expected baby (or babies) in the household size. There's no asset test for MAGI coverage, which is why a family with savings can still get MassHealth for the kids.

The 5% deduction is 5% of the poverty guideline for your household size. For 2026 that's $66.50 a month for one person, $113.83 for three and $137.50 for four. It's the reason MassHealth's chart says $1,769 for a single adult while advocates quote $1,835.40.

Non-MAGI rules apply to people 65 and older, nursing facility residents and certain disability groups. These rules allow a $20 general income deduction, and look at bank accounts, investments and property, including past transfers when you need long-term care. MassHealth's 2026 figures cap home equity at $1,130,000 for long-term care applicants.

For example, a family of three in Massachusetts earning $3,300 a month gross (one parent, a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old) gets split answers. The parent is specifically $158.20 over the $3,141.80 adult limit, so the parent doesn't get MassHealth. Both children qualify for MassHealth Standard, since the limit for kids 1 to 18 in a family of three is $3,528.83. The parent's income works out to about 149% of the 2025 poverty guideline the Health Connector uses for 2026, which falls in ConnectorCare Plan Type 2A, where the lowest-cost plan has a $0 premium.

MassHealth Asset Limits

$2,000 is the asset limit for one person 65 or older on MassHealth Standard, and $3,000 applies to a married couple, according to the MassHealth financial guidelines data for community residents (effective January 1, 2026). Adults, children and pregnant people on MAGI coverage don't face an asset test, and since March 1, 2024, the Medicare Savings Programs don't either.

When one spouse moves into a nursing facility, the spouse at home keeps a protected share:

  • Community spouse resource standard: a minimum of $32,532 and a maximum of $162,660 in 2026.
  • Monthly income for the spouse at home: the maximum monthly maintenance allowance is $4,066.50 (effective January 1, 2026) and the minimum is $2,705 (effective July 1, 2026).
  • Average daily nursing facility cost: $469 from November 1, 2026, up from $450. This is the daily rate MassHealth publishes for nursing facility services, and it's the kind of figure used when a transfer penalty is worked out.

A common mistake is giving money to children in the years before a nursing home stay. Transfers during the look-back period can delay coverage, so families planning ahead should talk with a legal aid office or an elder law attorney first.

Expansion vs Non-Expansion: Where Massachusetts Stands in 2026

Massachusetts expanded Medicaid, and its adult group (MassHealth CarePlus) covers people 21 to 64 up to 133% of poverty plus the 5% deduction, whether or not they have children. Parents and caretakers get MassHealth Standard at the same 133% level, and 19- and 20-year-olds qualify up to 150%. In a state that didn't expand, a childless adult can earn almost nothing and still be shut out; our Texas Medicaid income limits guide shows that gap. For nearby states, see our Rhode Island and New Hampshire guides, and our Pennsylvania guide for another large expansion state.

What's changing under the 2025 federal law. According to MassHealth's federal changes pages:

  • October 1, 2026 (already in effect): some lawfully present immigrants, including refugees, asylees and humanitarian parolees, lost eligibility for full Medicaid. MassHealth estimates about 7,300 members are affected. People 65 and older or with disabilities generally move to Family Assistance; adults 21 to 64 generally move to MassHealth Limited and the Health Safety Net. Green card holders past the 5-year bar, Cuban and Haitian entrants, COFA migrants, children under 21 and pregnant or postpartum people aren't affected.
  • January 1, 2027, work and education requirements: adults 19 through 64 without young children or a disability will need 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, job training or school (half-time enrollment counts), or income of at least $580 a month. Current members aren't affected until their first renewal in 2027. New applicants must meet the rule in the month before they apply.
  • January 1, 2027, six-month renewals: some adults 19 through 64 will renew every 6 months instead of every 12. MassHealth lists postpartum members, parents living with a child under 19 and people with blindness or a disability under Social Security rules as likely exempt.
  • Cash-assistance links: MassHealth is ending automatic enrollment for people who get TAFDC or EAEDC cash benefits from DTA.

None of these changes move the dollar limits in the tables above.

What MassHealth Doesn't Tell You About the Income Limits

Grantsights found 5 gaps between MassHealth's published chart and the way the limits play out for a household:

  1. The official chart shows lower numbers than the real cut-off. MassHealth's 2026 chart lists $1,769 for one adult at 133% of poverty. The working limit with the 5% deduction is $1,835.40, so a person earning $1,800 who reads only the chart may wrongly think they're over.
  2. Kids qualify far above their parents. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 MassHealth income bands shows Family Assistance for a family of four reaches $8,387.50 a month, $4,592.50 more than the $3,795 adult limit. A family that's comfortably over for the adults should still apply for the children.
  3. ConnectorCare uses last year's poverty guideline. The Health Connector says 2026 ConnectorCare eligibility runs from 100% to 400% of poverty, and MLRI's table notes it uses the 2025 guidelines with no 5% deduction. So a figure that's right for MassHealth can be wrong for ConnectorCare.
  4. The Health Safety Net isn't insurance. It pays hospitals and community health centers for people up to 300% of poverty, but it has no member card, doesn't count as coverage at tax time, and many doctors' bills at hospitals fall outside it.
  5. Seniors use a different chart. A 70-year-old who checks the $1,835.40 adult band is looking at the wrong test. The senior limit is about $1,350 with the $20 deduction, plus the $2,000 asset cap.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These errors lead to most wrong guesses about MassHealth:

  • Using take-home pay. MassHealth's MAGI bands start from gross pay. Money you put into a pre-tax 401(k) or health plan is subtracted, but income tax withholding isn't.
  • Counting the wrong household. Leaving out an expected baby or adding a roommate who isn't on your tax return changes the limit you're held to.
  • Giving up after a 2025 denial. The single-adult limit rose to $1,835.40 on March 1, 2026, and anyone whose income hasn't kept pace may now qualify.
  • Assuming a parent's denial covers the kids. Each person is checked separately, and children's bands run up to 305% of poverty.
  • Paying someone to apply. A red flag is any site, caller or "enrollment service" that charges a fee, wants gift cards or asks for your bank login. MassHealth, the Health Connector and certified enrollment assisters don't charge.
  • Ignoring the blue envelope. MassHealth sends renewal notices in blue envelopes. Missing one is among the quickest ways to lose coverage you still qualify for, and starting in 2027 some adults will get one every 6 months.

How to Apply for MassHealth and How Long It Takes

Federal rules at 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab) give a state up to 45 days to decide most Medicaid applications and 90 days when eligibility depends on disability. If you apply online or by phone, MassHealth says you'll get a decision, or a list of what's missing, once the application is complete, followed by a written notice.

  1. Online: create an MA Login account through MassHealth's application page (opens in a new tab). The same application covers MassHealth, the Health Safety Net and the Children's Medical Security Plan.
  2. By phone: the MassHealth Customer Service Center at (800) 841-2900 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  3. By mail, fax or in person: use the ACA-3 application, or visit a MassHealth Enrollment Center in Charlestown, Chelsea, Quincy, Springfield, Taunton, Tewksbury or Worcester.

People 65 and older who aren't caring for a child, and anyone of any age who needs long-term care, use MassHealth's separate senior and long-term care application. Have Social Security numbers, tax returns, pay stubs and immigration papers ready. If you also need food help, our Massachusetts food stamps guide covers SNAP, which uses different limits.

What to Do If MassHealth Denies You

You have 60 calendar days from the date you received the notice for the Board of Hearings to receive your signed Fair Hearing Request, according to MassHealth's appeal instructions (opens in a new tab). You can file by mail to the Board of Hearings in Quincy, by fax, by phone, online or in person. The Board sends a hearing notice at least 10 days before the date, and you can call (800) 655-0338 to ask for a phone hearing.

If your coverage is being cut or ended, file right away rather than waiting until the end of the window; the notice itself explains how to keep coverage while the appeal is open. Check the income figure MassHealth used against your gross pay, confirm your household size, and see whether the 5% deduction was applied. Free legal help is available from local legal services organizations, which MassHealth's customer service line can refer you to.

If You're Over the MassHealth Limit

Being a little over the adult band still leaves at least 5 other routes, and for a working adult the best bet is usually ConnectorCare. According to the ConnectorCare program guide on the Health Connector's site, 2026 plan types are set by income band, and most come from the same application:

  • ConnectorCare: for 2026, the Health Connector covers people from 100% to 400% of poverty. Plan Type 2A (100% to 150%) has a $0 lowest-cost premium, and Plan Type 3C (300.1% to 400%) starts at $235 a month per person.
  • Health Safety Net: according to the Health Safety Net program rules on MassHealth's patient page (opens in a new tab), it pays hospital and health center bills up to 150% of poverty with no deductible, and from 150% to 300% with a deductible.
  • Family Assistance and CommonHealth: children can stay covered up to 300% of poverty, and CommonHealth has no upper income limit for people with disabilities, with a premium above 150%.
  • Medicare Savings Programs: if you have Medicare, QI covers the Part B premium up to $3,013 a month for one person, with no asset test.
  • WIC: Massachusetts families with a pregnant member, a new baby or a child under 5 can check food benefits in our WIC income limits guide.
  • Seniors and disabled residents: cash help through SSI is covered in our SSI income limits guide, and home and community services in our help for seniors programs guide.

Massachusetts winters make heating bills a second worry for many MassHealth households, and our LIHEAP income limits guide covers that program's cut-offs. To see how 138%, 150% or 300% of poverty translates into dollars for any program, use our federal poverty guidelines guide; for grocery help, start with the SNAP income limits guide. Grantsights also offers a free eligibility checker that lists official programs for rent, utilities and other basics and shows where to apply. It doesn't make MassHealth decisions or send applications on your behalf.

FAQ: MassHealth Income Limits

What is the income limit for MassHealth in 2026?

$1,835.40 a month for one adult and $3,795 for four, from March 1, 2026.

How much can a family of 4 make and still get MassHealth?

$3,795 a month for the adults; children up to $8,387.50 through Family Assistance.

What is the MassHealth income limit for pregnant women?

$3,696.83 a month for two and $4,667.17 for three, counting the baby.

What are the MassHealth income and asset limits for seniors?

About $1,350 a month with the $20 deduction, and $2,000 in assets for one person.

Do Medicare Savings Programs in Massachusetts have an asset limit?

No, not since March 1, 2024.

What is the Health Safety Net income limit?

Up to 150% of poverty with no deductible, and up to 300% with one.

When do MassHealth work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for some adults 19 through 64.

How long do I have to appeal a MassHealth decision?

60 calendar days from the date you received the notice.

Sources

  1. MassHealth: 2026 Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab), effective March 1, 2026
  2. MassHealth: Program financial guidelines for certain applicants and members (opens in a new tab), last updated October 1, 2026 - asset limits, $2,982, spousal figures, personal needs allowance
  3. MassHealth: Federal changes affecting MassHealth members (opens in a new tab)
  4. MassHealth: New work and education requirements (opens in a new tab), published July 21, 2026
  5. MassHealth: More frequent renewals (opens in a new tab), updated September 18, 2026
  6. MassHealth: Information for noncitizens (opens in a new tab) - October 1, 2026 changes
  7. MassHealth: Health Safety Net for patients (opens in a new tab)
  8. MassHealth: Apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net or CMSP (opens in a new tab)
  9. MassHealth: How to appeal a MassHealth decision (opens in a new tab)
  10. Massachusetts Health Connector: ConnectorCare plans (opens in a new tab) - 2026 plan types and income ranges
  11. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute: 2026 MassHealth and Health Connector income standards (opens in a new tab), posted March 2, 2026 (nonprofit compilation)
  12. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
  13. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (December 2023 data), used here for Massachusetts (opens in a new tab), as of December 1, 2023
  14. eCFR: 42 CFR 435.912, Timely determination of eligibility (opens in a new tab)

Last updated November 3, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.

Related Guides

Alabama Medicaid Income Limits 2026: ALL Kids & Parents

Alabama Medicaid income limits for 2026: $3,324 a month for kids and pregnancy in a family of 3, $410 for parents, $7,218 for ALL Kids. No expansion.

Alaska Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Denali KidCare Chart

Alaska Medicaid 2026: $2,296 a month for one adult, $4,744 for four, Denali KidCare for kids to $7,151 for four. Senior and nursing home limits too.

Arizona AHCCCS Income Limits 2026: Chart by Size

AHCCCS 2026: $1,769 a month for one adult, $3,658 for four, KidsCare to $6,188 for a family of 4, and $2,982 for ALTCS nursing care. Full chart.

Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits 2026: ARHOME and ARKids

Arkansas Medicaid 2026: ARHOME covers adults to $1,835 a month for one, ARKids B to $5,940 for four, nursing home care to $2,982. Full DHS chart.

Medi-Cal Income Limits 2026: California Chart

Medi-Cal 2026 income limits: $1,836 a month for one adult, $3,795 for four, kids free up to $7,315 for four. Plus the asset limit back since January.

Colorado Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Health First Chart

Health First Colorado limits from April 1, 2026: $1,769 a month for one adult, $3,905 for a child in a family of 4, and CHP+ up to $7,150. Full chart.