Minnesota Medicaid Income Limits 2026: MA and MinnesotaCare

Applying is free, and both programs pay for health care rather than giving cash. To compare Minnesota with other states, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

Minnesota Medical Assistance Income Limits by Household Size (July 2026 to June 2027)

Minnesota sets 4 Medical Assistance income lines for families, and they're among the highest in the country for children and pregnancy. According to the Minnesota DHS income guide effective July 1, 2026, a household of four can have up to $3,657 a month for the adults, $7,562 for a child 2 to 18, $7,645 for a pregnant woman and $7,782 for a baby under 2. The amounts are gross monthly income before taxes.

Source: Minnesota DHS, Insurance Affordability Programs Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A-ENG 6-26) (opens in a new tab), "Effective 7/1/26 – 6/30/27." DHS notes that the chart's figures are approximations for general reference. Savings and property aren't counted for any column in this table.

Yearly limits, including MinnesotaCare

Sources: DHS-3461A 6-26 (Medical Assistance, effective July 1, 2026; MinnesotaCare, effective January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027) and the prior DHS-3461A 10-25 edition (MinnesotaCare, effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Why there are two MinnesotaCare columns. MinnesotaCare is set for a calendar year using the poverty guidelines published the year before. Coverage in 2026 uses 200% of the 2025 guideline ($15,650 for one person), and coverage in 2027 uses 200% of the 2026 guideline ($15,960).

Seniors, disability and Medicare Savings Program limits

Sources: DHS-3461A 6-26 (opens in a new tab); EPM 2.3.3.3.1 MA-ABD Income Limits (opens in a new tab), 2.3.3.2.1 MA-ABD Asset Limits (opens in a new tab) and Appendix F, Standards and Guidelines (opens in a new tab). The Medicare Savings Program figures include the standard $20 disregard, according to the DHS chart.

How Minnesota Counts Income for Medical Assistance

Minnesota uses 2 income methods, and they don't always agree. For families, children, pregnant women and adults without children, EPM section 2.2.3.4 (opens in a new tab) says Medical Assistance looks at current monthly income using the federal MAGI rules: taxable wages, self-employment profit after losses, unemployment pay, and the nontaxable part of Social Security. Pre-tax payroll deductions for child care, health insurance and retirement come off your gross pay. MinnesotaCare uses the same MAGI income types but looks at projected annual income for the year instead of the current month.

The 5% disregard. EPM section 2.2.3.3 (opens in a new tab) says that when income is above the Medical Assistance limit, DHS subtracts an amount equal to 5% of the poverty guideline, which "effectively raises" each limit by 5%. For one adult, that lifts the line from 133% to about 138% of poverty, or roughly $1,835 a month (calculated from 138% of the 2026 HHS guideline).

Older adults and people with disabilities use the separate MA-ABD rules with an asset test and SSI-style deductions. Children under 21 in that group have no asset test, according to EPM section 2.3.3.2.1.

For example, a family of three in Minnesota earning $3,100 a month gross (a single dad, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old) starts out specifically $73 over the $3,027 adult line. The 5% disregard for three is about $113.83 a month (5% of the $27,320 guideline, divided by 12), which brings his countable income to roughly $2,986, so he qualifies for Medical Assistance after all. Both children qualify easily under the $6,260 limit for kids. If he earned $3,300 a month instead, he'd still be over after the disregard, and he'd move to MinnesotaCare. At $39,600 a year, the DHS-4139A table puts a family of three in the 140% to 149% band for 2026, a premium of $25 a month for him and nothing for the children, because people under 21 don't pay MinnesotaCare premiums.

Minnesota Medical Assistance Asset Limits

$3,000 for one person and $6,000 for two, plus $200 for each additional household member, is the MA-ABD asset limit in EPM section 2.3.3.2.1 (published June 3, 2026). Families, children, pregnant women and adults without children on MAGI-based Medical Assistance have no asset test, and neither does MinnesotaCare.

Long-term care uses the same $3,000 limit for the person getting care, with extra protection for a spouse. According to EPM Appendix F:

• Community spouse asset allowance: up to $162,660 in 2026, with no minimum.
• Home equity limit: $752,000 in 2026.
• Clothing and personal needs allowance: $132 a month in 2026 for a nursing home resident.
• Statewide average nursing facility payment: $11,869 a month (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), the figure DHS uses to calculate transfer penalties when assets were given away during the look-back period.

Minnesota doesn't use a fixed nursing home income cap the way many states do. A resident who meets the asset test goes through a long-term care income calculation (EPM 2.4.2.5 (opens in a new tab)), and most income above the allowances goes toward the cost of care. The $2,982 special income standard in Appendix F applies to the Elderly Waiver for home and community-based care.

Minnesota and Medicaid Expansion

Minnesota expanded Medical Assistance to adults up to 133% of poverty and goes further with MinnesotaCare, a Basic Health Program that covers adults from 133% to 200%. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists Minnesota at 133% for parents and caretakers, 200% for expansion adults through the Basic Health Program, 275% for children, 278% for pregnant women and 283% for children under 2. Because of MinnesotaCare, a low-income adult here has a public program between Medicaid and the Marketplace that most states don't offer.

Next door, the picture changes. Wisconsin didn't adopt the ACA expansion and stops adult coverage at 100% of poverty; see our Wisconsin Medicaid income limits guide. Iowa expanded through the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan; see our Iowa Medicaid income limits guide. In a non-expansion state like Texas, most adults without children can't get Medicaid at any income.

Federal changes in 2026 and 2027

According to the Minnesota DHS federal changes guide, Medical Assistance eligibility for some adults changed on October 1, 2026, and work requirements and more frequent renewals start January 1, 2027. The DHS HR 1 implementation update spells out the details:

• Noncitizen adults, from October 1, 2026. Full Medical Assistance for adults who aren't pregnant is limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents (who still face a five-year wait or an exception), Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. People who lose Medical Assistance because of this change may qualify for MinnesotaCare, Emergency Medical Assistance or Refugee Medical Assistance. Pregnant women and lawfully present children under 21 aren't affected.
• Work or community engagement, from January 1, 2027. It applies to Medical Assistance adults without children: ages 21 through 64, no child under 19 living with them, and not on Medicare. They'll need 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or half-time school, or monthly income of at least $580. Exemptions include American Indians and Alaska Natives, caretakers of a person with a disability, veterans rated totally disabled, people who are medically frail, people in substance use treatment, people released from incarceration within the past 3 months, and people meeting MFIP or SNAP work rules.
• Six-month renewals, from January 1, 2027. The same adults without children get 6-month eligibility periods for applications and renewals started on or after that date.
• Shorter retroactive coverage, from January 1, 2027. Medical Assistance can cover 1 month before the application month for adults without children and up to 2 months for everyone else, down from 3.

Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare dollar limits don't move because of these federal rules.

What Minnesota DHS Doesn't Tell You About These Limits

Grantsights reviewed the DHS-3461A chart against the Eligibility Policy Manual and found 5 gaps worth knowing:

1. Minnesota's chart runs on July 1, not January. EPM section 2.2.3.3 says new poverty guidelines are used "beginning each July 1." Grantsights analysis of the two DHS-3461A editions shows the one-person adult limit rose from $1,734 to $1,768 on July 1, 2026, a $34 jump. Someone denied in the spring of 2026 by a few dollars may qualify now.
2. The printed adult limit isn't the real ceiling. The chart shows 133%, but the 5% disregard in the EPM lifts it to about 138%. A person $50 over the printed figure shouldn't assume they're out.
3. MinnesotaCare covers a wide band. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 chart shows MinnesotaCare reaches $10,074 a year past the Medical Assistance adult limit for one person ($21,226 to $31,300). In most states, that band gets only Marketplace tax credits.
4. MinnesotaCare premiums are small but rigid. The DHS-4139A table runs from $0 below 35% of poverty to $80 a person at 200%. EPM section 3.1.2.2 says there's no good cause exception for an unpaid premium, so a missed payment can mean a gap in coverage.
5. Some policy pages lag the federal change. As of November 3, 2026, the EPM's Medical Assistance immigration status page (published June 12, 2026) still lists asylees and refugees among statuses with no five-year wait, while DHS's own HR 1 update says those adults lost federally funded Medical Assistance on October 1, 2026. If you're a noncitizen adult, ask the agency which rule it applied and whether MinnesotaCare is open to you.

DHS's income and asset limits page (opens in a new tab) points to the DHS-3461A chart as the place to start, and it's the most current single source for household-size figures.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These errors lead to most wrong conclusions about Minnesota coverage:

• Reading the wrong year's MinnesotaCare column. MinnesotaCare limits for 2026 and 2027 coverage differ, and the newest DHS chart prints the 2027 column. Check which year you're applying for.
• Using net pay. Medical Assistance limits are gross, minus pre-tax deductions. Taxes don't come off.
• Forgetting that 19- and 20-year-olds are separate. They use the 133% adult limit, not the 275% children's limit, which surprises parents of college students.
• Underestimating the spenddown. A common mistake among seniors is assuming that $1,500 a month in Social Security rules out Medical Assistance. With a spenddown, income over $1,330 is applied to medical bills, and coverage starts once the spenddown is met.
• Letting renewal mail sit. From 2027, adults without children renew every 6 months, which doubles the chances to miss a form.
• Paying for help. Applying through MNsure, your county or your tribal agency is free. A red flag is anyone who charges a fee, promises approval, or asks for your MNsure password by text or social media. DHS lists free navigators who help people apply.

How to Apply for Minnesota Medical Assistance and How Long It Takes

EPM section 1.2.4 (opens in a new tab) requires a decision within 45 days for most applicants, 15 working days for a pregnant person and 60 days when disability is the basis. The clock starts on the day an online application is submitted or the agency receives a paper one, and it extends while you're working to provide requested proof.

1. Online through MNsure (opens in a new tab), which screens for Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare and Marketplace help at once.
2. By phone with MNsure at 651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873 outside the Twin Cities, the numbers on MNsure's contact page.
3. On paper or in person at your county or tribal human services agency. Seniors and people with disabilities usually apply this way, because their eligibility uses the MA-ABD rules.

Have pay stubs or your expected yearly income, Social Security numbers, immigration documents if they apply, and information on any job-based insurance offer ready. For food help, our Minnesota food stamps guide covers SNAP, which uses different limits.

What to Do If You're Denied

EPM section 1.3.1.1 (opens in a new tab) gives you 30 days after receiving a notice to request an appeal, or up to 90 days if you can show good cause for filing late. Appealing costs nothing. If the notice gave you 10 or more days of warning, filing by the effective date keeps your benefits going automatically; with 5 days' notice or less, you have 15 days from the notice date to keep them. MinnesotaCare members must keep paying premiums during the appeal.

Compare the notice with your own numbers. Was the 5% disregard applied? Did the agency use current monthly income for Medical Assistance and yearly income for MinnesotaCare? Household-size and wrong-year errors are among the easiest to fix.

If You're Over the Minnesota Medicaid Limit

Being over 133% still leaves at least 6 routes, and the best bet for most adults is MinnesotaCare:

• MinnesotaCare up to 200% of poverty, with no asset test and premiums of $0 to $80 a person in 2026.
• MNsure Marketplace plans with premium tax credits above 200%; see HealthCare.gov's savings page (opens in a new tab) for how the credits work. Minnesota runs its own marketplace, so you apply through MNsure.
• Children and pregnancy coverage through Medical Assistance up to 275% to 283%.
• Medicare Savings Programs for people with Medicare, from QMB at $1,350 a month to QI at $1,816 for one person.
• MA-EPD for workers with disabilities, with no income limit.
• WIC, which Minnesota runs for pregnant women, new mothers and kids under 5; our WIC income limits guide has the 2026 figures. Older adults can also check our SSI income limits guide and help for seniors programs guide.

Minnesota's long heating season makes energy help worth a look too, and our LIHEAP income limits guide covers it; our federal poverty guidelines guide converts the percentages above into dollars for any household size. Grantsights' free eligibility checker covers the non-medical side, listing official programs for rent, utilities and similar bills in Minnesota. It doesn't decide Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare eligibility and doesn't file anything; it shows where to apply.

FAQ: Minnesota Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for Medical Assistance in Minnesota?

$1,768 a month for one adult and $3,657 for four, effective July 1, 2026.

How much can a family of 4 make and get Medical Assistance in Minnesota?

$3,657 a month for the adults; children 2 to 18 up to $7,562; babies under 2 up to $7,782.

What is the MinnesotaCare income limit?

200% of poverty: $31,300 a year for one person in 2026 and $31,920 in 2027.

What is the Minnesota Medicaid income limit for pregnant women?

$5,013 a month for two people and $6,329 for three, counting the unborn child.

What are the Medical Assistance limits for seniors in Minnesota?

$1,330 a month and $3,000 in assets for one person, with a spenddown above the income line.

Does Minnesota have an income limit for nursing home Medical Assistance?

No fixed cap; most income goes toward care, and the resident keeps $132 a month.

When do Minnesota Medical Assistance work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for adults 21 to 64 without a child under 19 at home, unless exempt.

How long do I have to appeal a Medical Assistance decision in Minnesota?

30 days from the notice, or 90 days with good cause.

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Sources

1. Minnesota DHS: Insurance Affordability Programs Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A) (opens in a new tab), 6-26 edition (effective July 1, 2026) and prior 10-25 edition
2. Minnesota DHS: Income and Asset Limits (opens in a new tab)
3. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.2.3.3: MA-FCA Income Limit (opens in a new tab) - group limits, July 1 updates, 5% disregard
4. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.2.3.4: MA-FCA Income Methodology (opens in a new tab)
5. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.3.3.3.1: MA-ABD Income Limits (opens in a new tab) and 2.3.3.2.1: MA-ABD Asset Limits (opens in a new tab)
6. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.3.3.4: MA-ABD Medical Spenddowns (opens in a new tab)
7. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.4.2.5: MA-LTC Income Calculations (opens in a new tab)
8. Minnesota DHS EPM Appendix F: Standards and Guidelines (opens in a new tab), published October 1, 2026
9. Minnesota DHS EPM 3.3.2: MinnesotaCare Income Limit (opens in a new tab) and 3.1.2.2: MinnesotaCare Premiums and Cost Sharing (opens in a new tab)
10. Minnesota DHS: MinnesotaCare Premium Estimator Table (DHS-4139A) (opens in a new tab), effective January 1 to December 31, 2026
11. Minnesota DHS EPM 2.1.2.2.2: MA Immigration Status (opens in a new tab), published June 12, 2026
12. Minnesota DHS: Federal Medicaid Changes (opens in a new tab)
13. Minnesota DHS: HR 1 Implementation Update (opens in a new tab), May 6, 2026 (hosted by MNsure)
14. Minnesota DHS EPM 1.2.4: MHCP Processing Period (opens in a new tab)
15. Minnesota DHS EPM 1.3.1.1: MHCP Appeals (opens in a new tab)
16. MNsure: Contact Us (opens in a new tab)
17. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
18. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (December 2023 data), used here for Minnesota (opens in a new tab), Minnesota row, as of December 1, 2023
19. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)