Vermont Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Dr. Dynasaur Chart

Applying is free, and Green Mountain Care is health coverage, not cash. For other states' limits, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

Vermont Medicaid Income Limits by Household Size (2026)

Vermont's MCA chart lists 5 income tests for Medicaid for Children and Adults, and two of them change depending on whether you live in Chittenden County. Per the DVHA 2026 MCA chart, a family of four can have up to $1,000.50 a month under the parent and caretaker test outside Chittenden, $3,795.50 under the adult test, $5,857.50 for a pregnant member and $8,717.50 for a child. All figures are gross monthly income and already include the 5% disregard.

Source: DVHA, 2026 FPL/PIL and 5% Income Disregard Chart for MCA (opens in a new tab), April 1, 2026 effective date. The parent and caretaker standards are dollar amounts, not a poverty percentage; the chart says to contact DVHA's operations staff for households of 9 or more. The chart also lists a 195% "no premium" line for Dr. Dynasaur ($5,363 for four), but Vermont Health Connect says children's premiums are suspended indefinitely.

Yearly equivalents for the adult group

Grantsights calculated the yearly column from 138% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (opens in a new tab). The one-person and four-person figures match the yearly amounts DVHA gives on its federal Medicaid changes page (opens in a new tab).

Seniors, disability and long-term care limits

Medicaid for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (MABD) and long-term care use DVHA's Green Mountain Care standards, not the MCA chart.

Sources: DVHA 2026 Standards Change for Healthcare (opens in a new tab) and 2026 MABD PIL FPL Income Chart (opens in a new tab). DVHA republished both in 2026: one-person FPL figures marked with an asterisk took effect April 1, 2026; everything else took effect January 1, 2026.

How Vermont Counts Income for Green Mountain Care

Vermont uses 2 different budgeting methods, and the program you're checked for decides which one applies.

MAGI budgeting covers Medicaid for Children and Adults: adults 19 to 64, parents and caretaker relatives, pregnant people and children, including Dr. Dynasaur. Income follows federal tax rules, so wages, self-employment profit, unemployment and taxable Social Security count, while child support received and SSI don't. The household is generally your tax household. The MCA chart states plainly that MCA has no resource test.

The 5% disregard, in the chart's own words, is applied "ONLY" to the highest income test a person qualifies for, and only if it makes them eligible. It doesn't apply to Dr. Dynasaur premiums or to Marketplace tax credits. For one adult, the disregard is the gap between $1,769 (133%) and $1,835.50, so it's worth $66.50 a month.

MABD budgeting applies to people 65 or older, blind or disabled, and to long-term care. It counts income the SSI way, uses Vermont's protected income level, and checks resources. DVHA's PIL chart notes that programs following MABD budgeting never have a household larger than two.

Spenddowns. Vermont Health Connect's spenddown page (opens in a new tab) says a person under 21, a pregnant person, or a parent or caretaker of a minor child who is over the income limit can ask for a spenddown. The spenddown amount is the difference between household income and the PIL over a six-month period, met with medical bills, premiums and similar costs. The MCA chart adds a hard rule: someone who only fits the adult group and is over 133% plus the disregard can't spend down.

For example, a family of three in Rutland (outside Chittenden County) earning $3,300 a month gross, with one parent, a 2-year-old and a 9-year-old, gets two answers. Both children qualify for Dr. Dynasaur, because the three-person limit is $7,217.85. The parent is specifically $158.15 over the adult limit of $3,141.85 and far over the $867.85 parent and caretaker standard. Because the parent has a minor child, a spenddown is allowed, but it's measured against the three-person PIL of $1,650, so the parent would need $1,650 a month, or $9,900 over six months, in medical costs before Medicaid starts. For most parents in that spot, a Vermont Health Connect plan with financial help is the better fit.

Vermont Medicaid Asset Limits

$2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple are the MABD resource maximums, per the 2026 Standards Change for Healthcare (§ 29.07), and the same limits apply in long-term care. Adults, parents, children and pregnant people on MCA don't face any resource test.

Other resource rules in DVHA's 2026 standards:

• No resource test for QMB or QI-1. DVHA's PIL chart marks both Medicare savings programs as having no resource test, and it notes that the separate SLMB program ended January 1, 2026 because QMB was expanded to 150% of poverty.
• $10,000 for one and $15,000 for two for Medicaid for Working People with Disabilities, and $4,000 / $6,000 for QDWI.
• Community spouse resource allocation maximum: $162,660 (effective January 1, 2026), up from $157,920 in 2025.
• Substantial home equity limit: $752,000 for long-term care.
• Spousal income: a standard allocation of $2,707 a month and a maximum of $4,066.50.
• Personal needs allowance for a nursing home resident: $79.93 a month. People on home and community-based waivers keep a community maintenance allowance of $1,483.

DVHA also lists the average private-pay nursing home cost at $12,535.13 a month (effective October 1, 2025), the figure used to set the penalty period for assets given away during the look-back period. Talk with Vermont Legal Aid or an elder law attorney before moving money or property.

Expansion vs Non-Expansion: Vermont in 2026

Vermont expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 qualify at 133% of poverty plus the 5% disregard regardless of whether they have children. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists Vermont at 133% for expansion adults, 312% for children, 208% for pregnant women and a dollar-based parent standard (shown as 43%). Our guides to New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts cover Vermont's neighbors, all expansion states. For the contrast, the Florida Medicaid income limits guide shows how adults without children fare in a state that didn't expand.

What changes on January 1, 2027. DVHA's Federal Medicaid Changes: Vermont Impact page (opens in a new tab) (last updated October 28, 2026) lists these changes for some adults 19 to 64:

• Community engagement. New applicants must show they met the rule in the month before they apply, starting January 1, 2027. Current members show it at renewal starting March 1, 2027, for one of the months since they last applied or renewed. The rule is met with monthly income of at least $580 or at least 80 hours of community service, education, work programs, jobs or self-employment, and hours from different categories can be added together.
• Who isn't affected: people under 19, people 65 or older, people who are pregnant or within 12 months postpartum, and people entitled to or enrolled in Medicare. Exclusions also include caregivers of a disabled person or a child under 14 and people with certain health conditions.
• Six-month renewals instead of yearly reviews.
• Shorter retroactive coverage: one month for most affected adults and two months for pregnant people and children under 19.
• Cost sharing for certain adults is scheduled for 2028.

Already in effect: immigrant eligibility. Per the DVHA non-citizen guidance, starting October 1, 2026, Medicaid for adults 21 and older who aren't pregnant is limited to certain lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Lawfully residing children under 21 and pregnant people can still qualify for Medicaid or Dr. Dynasaur, and the state-funded Immigrant Health Insurance Plan covers some pregnant people and children who can't get Dr. Dynasaur because of status. Vermont's 2026 income charts aren't changed by any of this.

What DVHA Doesn't Tell You About the Income Limits

Grantsights found 5 gaps between how Vermont publishes its numbers and how they work for a household:

1. The parent limit looks impossibly low, but most parents use the adult limit. The parent and caretaker standard for a family of three outside Chittenden is $867.85. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 MCA chart shows the adult test covers $2,274 more a month for the same family ($3,141.85). A working parent who reads only the first column may assume they can't qualify.
2. Where you live matters, but only a little. Chittenden County standards run higher: $23 more for a parent in a three-person household and $108 more on the MABD PIL. Burlington-area residents should make sure their county is recorded correctly.
3. Dr. Dynasaur reaches far up the income scale. For a family of four, the children's limit of $8,717.50 a month is $4,922 higher than the adult limit, and works out to $104,610 a year. Families who underestimate that often skip applying for their kids after a parent is denied.
4. Two different update dates. MAGI limits for MCA and Dr. Dynasaur changed on April 1, 2026 and run through March 31, 2027, according to GCR 26-049, while PIL, SSI-based and long-term care figures changed January 1, 2026. Vermont Health Connect notes that 2025 poverty levels were used for Medicaid through March 2026.
5. A spenddown isn't always worth it. For an adult with income well above the PIL, the six-month spenddown can run to thousands of dollars, as the Rutland example shows. It's most useful for people with large ongoing medical bills, such as a parent facing a hospital stay.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

Watch for these when checking Green Mountain Care eligibility:

• Using last year's chart. A common mistake is reading a 2025 table. The 2026 MCA figures took effect April 1, 2026.
• Using take-home pay. Every MCA limit is gross monthly income.
• Leaving the baby out. A pregnant person's household includes the unborn child, which is why the pregnancy column has no one-person row.
• Assuming Dr. Dynasaur costs money. Pregnant people pay no premium, and children's premiums are suspended indefinitely, according to Vermont Health Connect.
• Missing mail. DVHA says it began contacting affected members about the 2027 changes in August 2026. Update your address, phone and email at Vermont Health Connect so a renewal notice doesn't slip by.
• Paying for help. Applying is free, and Vermont Health Connect lists free certified assisters. A red flag is anyone charging a fee, asking for gift cards or wanting your bank login to file an application.

How to Apply for Vermont Medicaid and How Long It Takes

Vermont Health Connect must decide your eligibility within 30 days of your application date, according to its appeals and rights page (opens in a new tab), unless an emergency or missing information causes a delay. If you don't hear back in 30 days, you can call and ask for a fair hearing. Federal rules at 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab) set outer limits of 45 days for most applicants and 90 days for disability-based ones.

How to apply, per Vermont Health Connect's Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur page (opens in a new tab):

1. Online at Vermont Health Connect, which handles MCA and Dr. Dynasaur at any time of year.
2. By phone at 1-855-899-9600.
3. With a certified assister, in person or over the phone.
4. By mail to the Application and Document Processing Center, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671.

People applying because they're 65 or older, blind or disabled use DVHA's MABD page (opens in a new tab), which says MABD applications and renewals can now be done online through the state's myVermont portal. Line up recent pay stubs or a tax return, the Social Security number for each person applying and, for MABD or long-term care, bank and asset statements. Vermont doesn't have a Grantsights SNAP guide yet; our SNAP income limits guide covers the federal food benefit rules.

What to Do If You're Denied

You must appeal within 90 days of the date of the decision, according to Vermont Health Connect's appeals page (opens in a new tab). You can appeal from the requests section of your online account, by calling 1-855-899-9600, by writing to the Human Services Board at 6 Baldwin Street, Suite 305, Montpelier, VT 05633, or by emailing the DVHA appeals team with "Appeal" in the subject line.

To keep Medicaid or Dr. Dynasaur during the appeal, ask for continuing benefits and appeal before the date your coverage ends or changes. If you lose, you may have to repay the cost of care you received. An expedited appeal is available if waiting would harm your health; most are decided in 7 working days. Free help is available from Vermont Legal Aid's Office of the Health Care Advocate at 1-800-917-7787.

If You're Over the Vermont Medicaid Limit

At least 5 other options are worth a look if you're just over the line:

• A Vermont Health Connect plan. Vermont runs its own marketplace, where open enrollment for 2027 is underway. HealthCare.gov's savings page (opens in a new tab) explains how premium tax credits work.
• Dr. Dynasaur for the kids, which covers children to 317% of poverty.
• A spenddown, for people under 21, pregnant people and parents of minor children with large medical bills.
• Medicare savings programs and VPharm for people on Medicare. QMB now reaches $1,995 a month for one person, and VPharm 3 goes to $2,993.
• WIC for pregnant people, new parents and young children; see our WIC income limits guide.

Vermont seniors weighing cash help can start with our SSI income limits guide and the services listed in our help for seniors programs guide. Winter fuel bills are covered separately in our LIHEAP income limits guide, and the federal poverty guidelines guide shows where 138%, 213% and 317% fall. Grantsights' free eligibility checker can point you to official programs for rent, heat and food. It doesn't decide Green Mountain Care eligibility and doesn't apply on your behalf; it shows where to go.

FAQ: Vermont Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for Vermont Medicaid in 2026?

$1,835.50 a month for one adult and $3,795.50 for four, effective April 1, 2026.

What is the Dr. Dynasaur income limit?

317% of poverty: $7,217.85 a month for three and $8,717.50 for four.

What is the Vermont Medicaid income limit for pregnant women?

$3,841.20 a month for two and $4,849.85 for three.

What are the Medicaid limits for seniors and people with disabilities in Vermont?

A PIL of $1,375 outside Chittenden or $1,483 inside, with a $2,000 resource limit for one person.

What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in Vermont?

$2,982 a month for one person in 2026.

When do Vermont Medicaid work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for new applicants; March 1, 2027, at renewal for current members.

How long do I have to appeal a Vermont Medicaid decision?

Within 90 days of the decision date.

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Sources

1. DVHA: 2026 FPL/PIL and 5% Income Disregard Chart for Medicaid for Children and Adults (opens in a new tab), effective April 1, 2026
2. DVHA: 2026 Standards Change for Healthcare (opens in a new tab), version 5, updated October 1, 2026
3. DVHA: 2026 MABD PIL FPL Income Chart (opens in a new tab), effective April 1, 2026
4. Vermont Agency of Human Services: GCR 26-049, Updated Financial Eligibility Standards (opens in a new tab), April 3, 2026
5. Vermont Health Connect: 2026 Eligibility Tables (opens in a new tab)
6. Vermont Health Connect: Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur (opens in a new tab) - premium suspension, how to apply
7. Vermont Health Connect: Medicaid Spenddowns (opens in a new tab)
8. Vermont Health Connect: Appeals (opens in a new tab) - 90-day deadline, continuing benefits, 30-day decisions
9. DVHA: Federal Medicaid Changes, Vermont Impact (opens in a new tab), updated October 28, 2026
10. DVHA: Information for Non-Citizens (opens in a new tab)
11. DVHA: Medicaid for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (opens in a new tab)
12. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
13. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table, Vermont row (opens in a new tab) (data as of December 1, 2023)
14. eCFR: 42 CFR 435.912, federal deadlines for eligibility decisions (opens in a new tab)
15. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)