Short answer
What is the income limit to qualify for MassHealth?
It depends on who you are. Parents and caretaker relatives, and adults 21 to 64, may qualify with household income up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, about $1,769 a month for one person or $3,658 for a family of four (official limits). (MassHealth, Member Booklet) (Mass.gov, 2026 MassHealth Income Standards) Children under 19 may qualify for Family Assistance up to 300 percent, and pregnant people and infants for MassHealth Standard up to 200 percent. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
| Group (coverage type) | Limit | 1 person, monthly | 4 people, monthly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parents and caretaker relatives (Standard); adults 21 to 64 (CarePlus) | 133 percent | $1,769 | $3,658 | Member Booklet; Income Standards |
| Children 1 through 18 and young adults 19 or 20 (Standard) | 150 percent | $1,995 | $4,125 | Member Booklet; Income Standards |
| Pregnant people and infants under 1 (Standard) | 200 percent | $2,660 | $5,500 | Member Booklet; Income Standards |
| Children under 19 (Family Assistance) | 300 percent | $3,990 | $8,250 | Member Booklet; Income Standards |
| Effective | March 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026 | Income Standards |
Source: MassHealth, Member Booklet for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs and 2026 MassHealth Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines. Verified .
MassHealth decides eligibility and coverage type. Benefit Bull is free and never submits applications for you.
MassHealth is Massachusetts Medicaid and CHIP. It covers people directly, or by paying part or all of other health insurance premiums, through several coverage types: Standard, CommonHealth, CarePlus, Family Assistance, and Limited, plus the Children's Medical Security Plan (CMSP) and the Health Safety Net. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
Which one you may qualify for depends on your age, whether you are pregnant, a parent, or disabled, and your household income measured as Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). The same application also covers Health Connector plans and can be used to apply for SNAP. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
What are the MassHealth income limits by group?
| Group | Coverage type | Income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant people and infants under 1 | Standard | 200 percent |
| Children 1 through 18 | Standard | 150 percent |
| Young adults 19 or 20 | Standard | 150 percent |
| Parents and caretaker relatives of children under 19 | Standard | 133 percent |
| Disabled adults | Standard | 133 percent |
| People with HIV, under 65 | Standard | 133 percent |
| People with breast or cervical cancer, under 65 | Standard | 250 percent |
| Adults 21 to 64 not eligible for Standard | CarePlus | 133 percent |
| Children under 19 | Family Assistance | 300 percent |
| Adults with HIV above 133 percent | Family Assistance | Over 133 percent, up to 200 percent |
| Former foster care youth up to age 26 | Standard | No income limit |
| Children | CMSP | No income limit; a premium may apply above 200 percent |
| Massachusetts residents (Health Safety Net) | HSN | 300 percent; a deductible may apply above 150 percent |
CommonHealth, for children and adults with disabilities, has no upper income limit in the booklet. Adults 19 and older with household income above 150 percent pay monthly premiums. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) Family Assistance for children also requires that the child is a U.S. citizen or national or a lawfully present immigrant. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
Find every person in your household on this table, not just yourself. A parent may land in CarePlus or Standard while the children qualify for a different coverage type.
What are the MassHealth income limits in dollars?
| Household size | 133 percent | 150 percent | 200 percent | 250 percent | 300 percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,769 | $1,995 | $2,660 | $3,325 | $3,990 |
| 2 | $2,399 | $2,705 | $3,607 | $4,509 | $5,410 |
| 3 | $3,028 | $3,415 | $4,554 | $5,692 | $6,830 |
| 4 | $3,658 | $4,125 | $5,500 | $6,875 | $8,250 |
| 5 | $4,288 | $4,835 | $6,447 | $8,059 | $9,670 |
| 6 | $4,917 | $5,545 | $7,394 | $9,242 | $11,090 |
| 7 | $5,547 | $6,255 | $8,340 | $10,425 | $12,510 |
| 8 | $6,176 | $6,965 | $9,287 | $11,609 | $13,930 |
| Each additional person | Add $630 | Add $710 | Add $947 | Add $1,184 | Add $1,420 |
Use these as a close guide, not a final answer. MassHealth says the figures are rounded and may not match the exact numbers used to decide your case. (Mass.gov, 2026 MassHealth Income Standards) (MassHealth, Member Booklet) If you are pregnant, your unborn child or children count in your household size, so your household is at least two people. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
If your income is within a few dollars of a limit, apply anyway. MassHealth makes the decision with its exact figures, not the rounded chart.
What if you are 65 or older?
The limits above are for people under 65 and for parents or caretakers of any age. MassHealth has a separate Senior Guide and application, the Application for Health Coverage for Seniors and People Needing Long-Term-Care Services (SACA-2), for residents 65 or older living at home and for people of any age who are in or waiting to go into a long-term-care facility. (Mass.gov, Senior guide and application)
For residents 65 or older living in the community, MassHealth's 2026 asset limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a member of a married couple. (Mass.gov, Program financial guidelines) We do not list a senior income limit here because we could not confirm it on an official page. Ask MassHealth at (800) 841-2900 or check the Senior Guide. (Mass.gov, Senior guide and application) (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
If you have Medicare, MassHealth's Medicare Savings Programs can help pay your Medicare costs with no asset test. (MassHealth, MSP FAQ)
If you are 65 or older and only need help with Medicare premiums, look at Medicare Savings Programs first. There is no asset test for them in Massachusetts.
How do you apply for MassHealth yourself?
- Online through the Massachusetts Health Connector website. MassHealth says applying online lets you submit right away, get much of your information verified electronically, and get a decision much faster. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) (Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth)
- By phone: call (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY 711. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
- On paper: the Massachusetts Application for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs (ACA-3), for people under 65, or for a parent of a child under 19 at any age. Mail it to Health Insurance Processing Center, PO Box 4405, Taunton, MA 02780, or fax it to (857) 323-8300. (Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth) (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
- In person at a MassHealth Enrollment Center (MEC) or an authorized hospital. MECs are open Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in Charlestown, Chelsea, Quincy, Springfield, Taunton, Tewksbury, and Worcester. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) (Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth)
Do not mail or fax an application to an Enrollment Center. MECs can help with applications but cannot enroll you in a health plan. (Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth) To apply for SNAP at the same time, check the SNAP box on the first page of the MassHealth application and sign it. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
You submit your application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free and never files for you.
Apply online if you can. MassHealth says online applications are verified electronically and decided much faster than paper ones.
What documents may MassHealth ask for?
Have this ready when you apply: (Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth)
- Social Security numbers, if you have them, for every household member who is applying
- Federal tax returns, if you file
- Information about citizenship, national status, or immigration status
- Employer and income information for everyone in your household, for example pay stubs or wage statements
- Information about any job-related or other health insurance you have or can get
MassHealth may ask for proof of income, family size, address, disability, pregnancy, or health insurance. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) You must give proof of identity for all household members who are applying, and you may be able to prove identity through the Registry of Motor Vehicles if you have a Massachusetts driver's license or ID. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) Without pay stubs or tax records, a signed statement from your employer with your gross pay and hours worked can prove income. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) For your address, MassHealth accepts documents like a Section 8 agreement, a lease with your most recent rent payment, or a statement from a homeless shelter, and if you have none you may submit an affidavit. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
If you are not a U.S. citizen and are applying only for your children, you do not have to submit your own immigration documents with the application. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
If MassHealth sends a Request for Information, send the proof well before the 90 day deadline on the notice, and keep a copy of what you sent.
When does coverage start, and what changed in 2026?
If MassHealth gets all needed information within 90 days, Standard coverage may begin on the first day of the month MassHealth gets your application. If you have medical bills from the three months before you applied, MassHealth may be able to pay them if you were eligible then. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) Pregnant Standard members stay eligible through the pregnancy and for 12 months after. Certain Standard members may keep up to 12 months of benefits after income rises above 133 percent. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
There are no premiums for CarePlus, and most other people eligible for Standard are not charged a premium. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) If MassHealth sends a Request for Information notice, you have 90 days to send the proof, and applicants 21 or older may not get benefits until all household income is verified, unless they are pregnant, have HIV, or are in active treatment for breast or cervical cancer. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
Two federal changes matter. As of October 1, 2026, MassHealth says federal law no longer allows certain immigrants who are lawfully in the United States, which may include refugees, asylees, parolees, and victims of abuse and trafficking, to stay enrolled in full MassHealth benefits. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) And starting January 1, 2027, federal law requires states to condition Medicaid for certain adults on community engagement, such as work. (Medicaid.gov, Community Engagement) MassHealth had not published how it will apply that rule when we checked.
If you disagree with a decision, you have the right to ask for a fair hearing. Your notice explains how and how much time you have, and questions go to (800) 841-2900. (MassHealth, Member Booklet)
Apply as soon as you need coverage. Standard coverage can start the first day of the month MassHealth gets your application, and some recent bills may be covered too.
What MassHealth numbers should you know?
- $1,769
- Official 133 percent monthly limit, 1 person, from March 1, 2026 (rounded)
- $3,658
- Official 133 percent monthly limit, family of 4 (rounded)
- 300%
- Family Assistance limit for children under 19
- 3 months
- Back bills MassHealth may pay if you were eligible
See which Massachusetts programs may fit your household, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (MassHealth, Member Booklet) (Mass.gov, 2026 MassHealth Income Standards)
What this adds up to
MassHealth income limits run from 133 percent of the federal poverty level for parents and most adults 21 to 64 (an official limit of about $3,658 a month for a family of four) up to 300 percent for children in Family Assistance, with no income limit for former foster youth and CMSP. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) (Mass.gov, 2026 MassHealth Income Standards) You apply yourself online through the Massachusetts Health Connector, by phone, on paper, or at an Enrollment Center, and the same application can include SNAP. (MassHealth, Member Booklet) If heating is part of your budget, see the Massachusetts fuel assistance guide.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked October 2026. Last updated October 18, 2026.
- MassHealth, Member Booklet for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs, ACA-1_2026-08 (PDF) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, 2026 MassHealth Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines, Effective March 1, 2026 (PDF) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, Program financial guidelines for certain MassHealth applicants and members (accessed October 18, 2026)
- Mass.gov, Apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, or the Children's Medical Security Plan (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Mass.gov, Senior guide and application for health care coverage (accessed October 17, 2026)
- MassHealth, Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) FAQ, MSP-FAQ_2026-03 (PDF) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Medicaid.gov, Community Engagement (Working Families Tax Cut legislation resources) (accessed October 17, 2026)
