New Hampshire Medicaid Income Limits 2026 Chart

Applying is free, and Medicaid pays for health care rather than handing out cash. To compare New Hampshire with other states, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

New Hampshire Medicaid Income Limits by Household Size (from March 1, 2026)

New Hampshire publishes 4 family Medicaid limits as dollar amounts of monthly net income, plus a separate 5% deduction table. DHHS compares your net income, after any program deductions, with the column for your group, according to the BFA income limits sheet.

Sources: NH DHHS Supervisory Release 26-03 (opens in a new tab), effective March 1, 2026, for the Granite Advantage, children's, pregnancy, Expanded CM and 5% deduction tables, and the BFA net monthly income limits sheet (opens in a new tab) (10/2026) for the parent and caretaker column. The FPL percentages for the parent column are Grantsights' calculation from the 2026 HHS guideline; DHHS says this limit is based on the FANF payment standard, not the poverty guideline.

Yearly equivalents

Grantsights multiplied DHHS's monthly figures by 12. DHHS decides eligibility on monthly net income, so treat these only as a quick check.

Seniors, disability, Medicare and nursing home limits

Sources: BFA income limits sheet (opens in a new tab) and program fact sheet (opens in a new tab), both dated October 2026, and SR 26-03 for the Medicare savings and MEAD/MOAD figures (effective March 1, 2026). The two October sheets show different In and Out limits for one person ($966 and $939); ask your District Office which one it's using.

How New Hampshire Counts Income for Medicaid

New Hampshire runs 2 counting methods, and every limit on DHHS's charts is net income, which is the main difference from most states' published charts.

MAGI rules apply to Granite Advantage, Children's Medicaid, pregnant people, parents and caretaker relatives and family planning coverage. DHHS's adult eligibility page says your federal tax filing status and the dependents you claim decide your household size and whose income counts. Wages, self-employment income, tips, unemployment benefits and Social Security count. The fact sheet lists only a few deductions for these groups, such as some court-ordered spousal support and wage garnishments, so for most working families, net and gross MAGI income are close. There's no resource test.

The 5% MAGI deduction is applied only when you meet every other requirement but your income is over the limit. SR 26-03 sets it at $67 a month for one person, $114 for three and $138 for four for 2026.

Non-MAGI rules cover seniors, people with disabilities, nursing facility care, Medicare savings programs and In and Out medical assistance. These allow program-specific deductions from income, and they count resources such as cash, bank accounts, stocks and unoccupied real property.

For example, a family of three in New Hampshire with $3,100 a month in net income (a parent with children ages 6 and 13) shows how the deduction works. The parent is specifically $72 over the $3,028 Granite Advantage limit, but the $114 deduction brings countable income to $2,986, so the parent qualifies. Both children qualify for Children's Medicaid, because $3,100 is under the $4,463 limit for three.

New Hampshire Medicaid Asset Limits

$1,500 is the resource limit for Old Age Assistance, APTD and ANB medical coverage, according to the BFA program fact sheet dated October 2026, and certain life insurance and burial funds aren't counted. That's lower than the $2,000 SSI figure many national guides use for every state.

Other non-MAGI groups use different numbers:

• $2,500 for In and Out medical assistance for one person and $4,000 for two, plus $100 for each additional person.
• $2,500 for nursing facility care, under the same fact sheet.
• $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for two in the Medicare savings programs.
• $37,789 for one person and $56,681 for two in MEAD and MOAD.

Granite Advantage, children, pregnant people and parents on MAGI coverage don't have an asset test. Families planning for nursing home care should get advice from legal aid or an elder law attorney before moving money, since transfers can affect eligibility.

Expansion vs Non-Expansion: Granite Advantage's Status in 2026

New Hampshire covers expansion adults through the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, which DHHS describes as coverage for adults at least 19 and under 65 with household income at or below 133% of poverty who aren't pregnant at application and aren't on Medicare. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists New Hampshire at 318% for children, 196% for pregnancy, a dollar-based standard (about 55%) for parents and 133% for expansion adults. For a non-expansion contrast, see our Texas Medicaid income limits guide; for neighbors, see our Massachusetts MassHealth guide.

Reauthorization and trigger status. Under RSA 126-AA (opens in a new tab), the sections that create Granite Advantage are scheduled for repeal on December 31, 2030, so the program runs through 2030 unless lawmakers act again. The statute also tells the commissioner to end the program if its fund can't cover the state's share for the next 6 months and the liquor commission fund can't fill the gap. Grantsights' reading of the current statute text found no trigger tied to a specific federal match percentage.

Premiums are proposed, not in effect. RSA 126-AA:2-a, added by the 2025 state budget, sets premiums for members at or above 100% of poverty of $60 a month for one person, $80 for two, $90 for three and $100 for four or more. DHHS's waiver notice (opens in a new tab) took comments from September 10 to October 16, 2026, and says members who don't pay for 60 days or more would be disenrolled after notice. As of November 3, 2026, DHHS's waiver page (opens in a new tab) still lists the request under proposed demonstrations, and DHHS hasn't announced a start date for premiums.

Federal changes:

• October 1, 2026 (in effect): non-pregnant adults must be U.S. citizens or nationals, green card holders, Cuban-Haitian entrants or COFA migrants to keep full Medicaid. Refugees, asylees and humanitarian parolees now get emergency coverage only. Children and pregnant people who are lawfully residing aren't affected, according to the DHHS noncitizen page (opens in a new tab).
• January 1, 2027, work and community engagement: Granite Advantage members 19 to 64 need 80 hours a month of work, community service, an approved work program or half-time school, or income of at least $580. New applicants on or after January 1, 2027, must show it for the month before they apply. A 2026 state law, RSA 126-AA:6, requires documents rather than self-attestation at application.
• 2027 six-month redeterminations start for current members at their first 2027 renewal, and DHHS lists limits on retroactive coverage for some groups starting in January 2027.
• DHHS is taking comment on its medically frail exemption criteria through December 7, 2026, with hearings November 5 and 10.

What NH DHHS Doesn't Tell You About the Income Limits

Grantsights found 5 gaps between how DHHS posts its limits and how they work in practice:

1. Every number is "net," but MAGI net is close to gross. The charts say net income, which makes many people subtract taxes. For Granite Advantage and children, the allowed deductions are narrow, so a common mistake is to underestimate countable income.
2. The 5% deduction lives in a separate table. The headline Granite Advantage limit of $1,769 for one person isn't the true ceiling; with the $67 deduction, it's about $1,836.
3. The parent group almost never matters. The parent and caretaker relative limit is $965 for three, and it requires a deprived child. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 DHHS income tables shows Granite Advantage covers a three-person household up to $2,063 more a month, so a working parent should look at Granite Advantage first.
4. Kids go much higher than adults. For a family of four, Expanded Children's Medicaid reaches $8,745, which is $5,087 above the $3,658 Granite Advantage limit. Children also get 12 months of continuous coverage once approved.
5. Senior limits are low and the asset cap is $1,500. A 70-year-old with $1,100 a month in Social Security is over the $1,008 Old Age Assistance line and may need In and Out spend-down or a Medicare savings program instead.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

• Subtracting taxes. For MAGI groups, taxes don't come off; the fact sheet's short list of deductions does.
• Counting the wrong household. Use your tax household, and count an expected baby for a pregnant applicant.
• Assuming an old denial holds. The one-person Granite Advantage limit is $1,769 in the 2026 table, up from $1,670 in DHHS's March 2024 table, and SR 26-03 expected about 4,912 cases to change category or benefits with the 2026 update.
• Missing the December 2026 window. Anyone planning to apply for Granite Advantage in January 2027 will need to show work or community engagement for December 2026, unless exempt.
• Paying for help. A red flag is any person or website that charges to apply, asks for gift cards or wants your NH EASY password. DHHS and its District Offices don't charge.
• Ignoring notices. With six-month renewals coming, an unanswered DHHS request is a fast way to lose coverage you still qualify for.

How to Apply for NH Medicaid 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 disability is the basis.

1. Online: through NH EASY, the DHHS application system, linked from the DHHS apply for assistance page (opens in a new tab).
2. By phone: 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447) for questions.
3. By mail or in person: use Form 800 for all programs (with the Form 800 insert for children, pregnant people and parents) or Form 800MA for Medicaid only, and take or mail it to your District Office.

You may be asked for an interview and for proof of income, identity, citizenship or immigration status, residency and Social Security numbers. If you also need food help, our New Hampshire food stamps guide covers SNAP, which has its own limits.

What to Do If You're Denied

You generally have 30 days from the date on the Notice of Decision to appeal, according to the DHHS Administrative Appeals page (opens in a new tab). If you appeal within 15 days, you may be able to keep your benefits while the appeal is pending, but you'd have to repay them if the decision goes against you. You can file with the appeal request form or a letter, at your District Office or by mail or email to the Administrative Appeals Unit, or by telling a DHHS representative you want to appeal.

Check the net income figure on the notice against your pay stubs, confirm your household size and see whether the 5% deduction was applied. DHHS doesn't provide lawyers, but legal aid organizations may help at no cost.

If You're Over the New Hampshire Medicaid Limit

There are at least 5 other routes if you're over, and for a family with children the best bet is usually Children's Medicaid or Expanded Children's Medicaid for the kids.

• Marketplace coverage: New Hampshire residents shop on HealthCare.gov; see its savings page (opens in a new tab) for how premium tax credits work. Losing Medicaid opens a special enrollment period.
• In and Out medical assistance: seniors and people with disabilities over the limit can qualify after medical bills bring income down to the In and Out level.
• Medicare savings programs: SLMB135 pays the Part B premium up to $1,796 a month for one person.
• MEAD or MOAD: working people with disabilities can qualify up to 450% of poverty ($5,985 for one) with up to $37,789 in resources.
• WIC serves pregnant people, new parents and children under 5; see our WIC income limits guide. Older adults can look at our SSI income limits guide and help for seniors programs guide.

New Hampshire heating costs are high, and our LIHEAP income limits guide covers fuel assistance cut-offs. Our federal poverty guidelines guide converts any percentage into dollars, and the SNAP income limits guide covers grocery help. For rent, utilities and other basics, Grantsights' free eligibility checker lists official programs and where to apply; it doesn't make Medicaid decisions or apply for you.

FAQ: New Hampshire Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for New Hampshire Medicaid in 2026?

$1,769 net a month for one adult under Granite Advantage, about $1,836 with the 5% deduction.

What is the income limit for children's Medicaid in NH?

$5,390 a month for four under Children's Medicaid; up to $8,745 under Expanded Children's Medicaid.

What is the New Hampshire Medicaid income limit for pregnant women?

$3,535 a month for two and $4,463 for three.

What are the Medicaid income and asset limits for seniors in New Hampshire?

$1,008 a month for one person living independently and $1,500 in resources.

What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in New Hampshire?

Under $2,982 gross or $939 net a month, with $2,500 in resources.

Does Granite Advantage charge premiums?

Not as of November 3, 2026; the premium waiver still needs federal approval.

When do Granite Advantage work requirements start?

January 1, 2027; new applicants that month must show December 2026 activity.

How long do I have to appeal a Medicaid decision in New Hampshire?

30 days from the Notice of Decision; 15 days to keep benefits during the appeal.

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Sources

1. NH DHHS: Supervisory Release 26-03 (opens in a new tab), effective March 1, 2026 - Granite Advantage, children's, pregnancy, Medicare savings, MEAD/MOAD and 5% deduction tables
2. NH DHHS: BFA Program Net Monthly Income Limits (opens in a new tab), 10/2026
3. NH DHHS: BFA Program Fact Sheet (opens in a new tab), 10/2026 - resource limits, nursing facility test, deductions
4. NH DHHS: Medicaid Eligibility for Adults (opens in a new tab)
5. NH DHHS: Medicaid Work Requirements, What You Need to Know (opens in a new tab)
6. NH DHHS: Eligibility Changes for Non-US Citizen Adults (opens in a new tab), from October 1, 2026
7. NH DHHS: Notice of Public Comment on the Granite Advantage premiums waiver (opens in a new tab), September 10, 2026
8. NH DHHS: Medicaid Waivers and Demonstrations (opens in a new tab)
9. NH General Court: RSA Chapter 126-AA, Granite Advantage Health Care Program (opens in a new tab)
10. NH DHHS: Administrative Appeals (opens in a new tab)
11. NH DHHS: Apply for Assistance (opens in a new tab)
12. NH DHHS: Table G income limits, SR 24-07 (opens in a new tab) - prior-year comparison
13. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
14. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (December 2023 data), used here for New Hampshire (opens in a new tab), as of December 1, 2023
15. eCFR: 42 CFR 435.912, Timely determination of eligibility (opens in a new tab)
16. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)