Short answer
What is the income limit for Medical Assistance in Minnesota in 2026?
Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota's Medicaid program, and there is no monthly cost to enrollees. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) Parents, caretaker relatives, and adults 19 to 64 without children may qualify with monthly income up to $1,768 for one person or $3,657 for a household of four, which is 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. These are official DHS limits, which DHS describes as approximate, effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A) If your income is above the MA limit, MinnesotaCare, a separate low-cost program for Minnesotans who do not qualify for MA, may be an option, with a 2026 limit of $31,300 a year for one person (200 percent of the guidelines; an official DHS limit, which DHS describes as approximate). (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
| Group | Percent of poverty guidelines | 1 person | Household of 4 | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parents, caretaker relatives, adults 19 to 64 without children, and children 19 to 20 (MA) | 133% | $1,768 a month | $3,657 a month | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
| Children 2 through 18 (MA) | 275% | $3,657 a month | $7,562 a month | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
| Infants under 2 (MA) | 283% | $3,763 a month | $7,782 a month | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
| Pregnant person, who counts as two or more (MA) | 278% | Not applicable | $7,645 a month | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
| Adults 65 and older, and people who are blind or have a disability (MA) | 100% | $1,330 a month | $2,752 a month | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
| MinnesotaCare (separate program, yearly limit) | 200% | $31,300 a year | $64,300 a year | January 1 to December 31, 2026 (DHS-3182, DHS-3461A) |
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Health Care Programs (DHS-3182, revised 7-26) and Minnesota Department of Human Services, Insurance Affordability Programs Income and Asset Guidelines (DHS-3461A, revised 6-26). Verified .
Minnesota DHS and your county or tribal agency decide eligibility. Benefit Bull is free and never submits applications for you.
DHS describes Medical Assistance as a health care program for Minnesotans with low incomes that covers children and families, pregnant people, adults without children, seniors, and people who are blind or have a disability. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) Which limit applies to you depends on your age and who lives with you, and being pregnant, blind, or having a disability can change it. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance)
Every income limit on this page is an official DHS figure, which DHS describes as approximate. Its chart says: "Income guidelines are approximations only. Use these charts for general reference." (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) The figures are tied to the federal poverty guidelines (FPG). For one person, DHS's 100 percent line is $1,330 a month, or $15,960 a year, the same as the 2026 HHS poverty guideline for one person. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A) (HHS ASPE, 2026 Poverty Guidelines)
What are Minnesota's Medical Assistance income limits by household size?
Here is DHS's full table for every group except people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability (step 5). Every figure is a monthly limit for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
| Household size | Parents, caretaker relatives, adults 19 to 64 without children, children 19 to 20 (133%) | Same group, yearly (133%) | Children 2 through 18 (275%) | Infants under 2 (283%) | Pregnant person (278%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,768 | $21,226 | $3,657 | $3,763 | Not applicable |
| 2 | $2,398 | $28,781 | $4,959 | $5,103 | $5,013 |
| 3 | $3,027 | $36,335 | $6,260 | $6,442 | $6,329 |
| 4 | $3,657 | $43,890 | $7,562 | $7,782 | $7,645 |
| 5 | $4,287 | $51,444 | $8,864 | $9,122 | $8,960 |
| 6 | $4,916 | $58,998 | $10,165 | $10,461 | $10,276 |
| 7 | $5,546 | $66,553 | $11,467 | $11,801 | $11,592 |
| 8 | $6,175 | $74,107 | $12,769 | $13,140 | $12,908 |
| Each additional person | Add $629 | Add $7,554 | Add $1,301 | Add $1,339 | Add $1,315 |
DHS notes that a pregnant person counts as two or more, which is why that column has no figure for one person. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) The adult and parent line sits at 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, children 2 through 18 at 275 percent, pregnancy at 278 percent, and infants under 2 at 283 percent. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
These tables follow a July to June year. The table before this one ran July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, and the current one runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, so a chart with a different date range is out of date. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
Find your household size, then read the column for each person in it. The groups have different limits, so a child in your home may fall under a much higher line than you do.
Is Medical Assistance the same as Medicaid in Minnesota?
Yes. DHS says plainly that Medical Assistance is Minnesota's Medicaid program. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) MinnesotaCare is not Medicaid. DHS calls it a Minnesota health care program offering low-cost coverage for Minnesotans who do not qualify for MA or Medicare, or cannot get affordable insurance through an employer. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, where you can compare and choose qualified health plans, which are commercial plans offered by insurance companies. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
What MA covers. DHS lists doctor's visits, outpatient care, emergency care, hospital care, maternity and newborn care, mental health care, alcohol and drug treatment, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, laboratory services, preventive and wellness care, chronic disease management, dental care, vision care including eyeglasses, chiropractic care, family planning, hearing aids, and medical equipment and supplies. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
What it costs. There is no monthly cost to enrollees. You may have to pay a copay for some medical services, but pregnant people and children under 21 do not pay copays. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Older bills. MA pays for current and future medical bills, and may also pay medical bills going back three months from when DHS gets your application. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Other insurance. You can have other health insurance and still qualify, and MA may help pay the cost of that other insurance. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
If you have unpaid medical bills from the last few months, keep them. Mention them when you apply, since MA may reach back three months from when DHS gets your application.
Who may qualify for Medical Assistance in Minnesota?
DHS lists five basic rules. To qualify, you must: (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance)
- Be a Minnesota resident
- Be a U.S. citizen or a qualifying noncitizen
- Provide a Social Security number for each person requesting Medical Assistance, unless an exception is met
- Meet the income limit and asset limit, if any
- Meet any other program rules
No asset limit for most groups. There is no asset limit for people who qualify as a pregnant person, a parent or caretaker relative of a child under age 19, a child under age 21, or an adult under age 65 without children. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) The asset limits for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability are in step 5.
Adults without children are included. Adults 19 to 64 without children use the same 133 percent line as parents. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Babies stay covered. If you get MA as a pregnant person, your baby gets MA through the month of the baby's first birthday. During that first year, the baby's coverage cannot stop as long as the baby keeps living in Minnesota. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Apply for everyone in the household who needs coverage, not just the person you are most worried about. The groups have different limits and different asset rules.
What if your income is above the MA limit? MinnesotaCare and other options
A spenddown. If your income is more than the limit, you may still qualify for MA by meeting a spenddown. DHS compares it to an insurance deductible: you pay part of your medical bills and MA pays the rest. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) Parents and caretaker relatives who qualify for MA with a spenddown have an asset limit of $20,000. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
MinnesotaCare. Most MinnesotaCare enrollees pay a monthly premium based on household size and income, and coverage starts the first day of the month after you pay your premium. There is no asset limit for MinnesotaCare. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) Unlike MA, its limits follow the calendar year. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
| Household size | January 1 to December 31, 2026 | January 1 to December 31, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,300 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $42,300 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $53,300 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $64,300 | $66,000 |
| Each additional person | Add $11,000 | Add $11,360 |
| Question | Medical Assistance (MA) | MinnesotaCare |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Minnesota's Medicaid program | A separate Minnesota program for people who do not qualify for MA or Medicare, or cannot get affordable insurance through an employer |
| Monthly cost | No monthly cost to enrollees; copays for some services, none for pregnant people and children under 21 | Most people pay a monthly premium based on household size and income |
| Income limit for one adult | $1,768 a month (133%) | $31,300 a year in 2026 (200%) |
| Limit year | July 1 to June 30 | January 1 to December 31 |
| Asset limit | None for pregnant people, parents and caretaker relatives of a child under 19, children under 21, and adults under 65 without children | None |
| Older bills | May pay bills going back three months from when DHS gets your application | Coverage starts the first day of the month after you pay your premium |
A MNsure plan. If you do not qualify for a Minnesota Health Care Program, you may be able to buy a qualified health plan on MNsure, with or without a tax credit that helps pay the monthly premium. You may also qualify for cost sharing reductions that lower copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket costs. Plans are sold during the annual open enrollment period, or at other times after certain life events such as the birth of a child, marriage, or loss of health insurance coverage. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Do not rule yourself out because you are a little over the MA line. Most people can apply for all Minnesota Health Care Programs, MA and MinnesotaCare included, on the same application, so let the agency sort out which one fits. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
What are the limits for older adults and people with disabilities?
Adults 65 and older and people who are blind or have a disability use a separate, lower income line: 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
| Household size | Monthly income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $2,278 |
| 4 | $2,752 |
| 5 | $3,226 |
| 6 | $3,700 |
| 7 | $4,174 |
| 8 | $4,648 |
| Each additional person | Add $474 |
Assets. The asset limit is $3,000 for one person and $6,000 for a household of two. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) DHS's income and asset chart adds $200 for each dependent. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A) Assets that may count include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certain vehicles, and property where you do not live. Assets that do not count include the home where you live, household goods, personal items such as clothing and jewelry, and certain assets owned by an American Indian. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Over the line. The spenddown in step 4 applies here too. DHS's chart lists the 100 percent line for this group both with and without a spenddown. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
Medicare Savings Programs. If you have Medicare, these programs can help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copays. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) DHS says the first $20 of monthly income is not counted toward these limits. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
| Program | What it pays | 1 person | 2 people | Each additional person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) | Medicare premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance | $1,350 | $1,824 | Add $474 |
| Service Limited Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) | Medicare Part B premiums | $1,616 | $2,184 | Add $568 |
| Qualified Individual (QI) | Medicare Part B premiums for higher income individuals | $1,816 | $2,455 | Add $639 |
| Qualified Working Disabled (QWD) | Medicare Part A premiums if you cannot get free Part A | $2,680 | $3,627 | Add $947 |
The Medicare Savings Program asset limit is $10,000 for a single person and $18,000 for a family of two or more, except for QWD, where it is $4,000 for one person and $6,000 for two or more. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
For more, see Minnesota Medicare Savings Program limits.
Working with a disability. Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) gives MA coverage to employed people with certified disabilities. You must earn more than $65 a calendar month, there is no income limit, an asset limit of $20,000 applies, and assets owned by your spouse do not count. You pay a monthly premium based on your income, and American Indians usually do not pay a premium. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A) For other programs people over 60 often miss, see The Senior Money Checklist.
Use the right form. People who are 65 or older, blind, have a disability, get SSI, or only want help with Medicare costs apply on a different DHS application, DHS-3876 (step 6). (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
How do you apply for Medical Assistance in Minnesota yourself?
DHS says the easiest way for most people to apply is online through MNsure, and that some people, including seniors, people with disabilities, and youth formerly in foster care, need to apply a different way. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) Here is the order that works.
- Pick the right application. Most people can apply for all Minnesota Health Care Programs online at mn.gov/dhs/apply or on the paper Application for Health Coverage and Help Paying Costs (DHS-6696), available at mn.gov/dhs/application-mhcp or from your local county or Tribal agency. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
- Use DHS-3876 if it fits you. Apply on the Minnesota Health Care Programs Application for Certain Populations (DHS-3876) if you meet one of these: you are 65 or older; you are blind or have a disability; you only want help with Medicare costs; you are 21 or older, have no dependents, and have Medicare; you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or you are applying for MA-EPD. Get it at mn.gov/dhs/health-care/resources/forms or from your county or Tribal agency. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
- Use DHS-3531 for long-term care. To apply for payment of long-term care services, such as nursing home care or services to help you stay in your home, use the Application for Payment of Long-Term Care Services (DHS-3531). (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
- Get free help if you want it. DHS says you can get free help filling out the online or paper application from a navigator in your area (find one at mn.gov/dhs/navigators) or by calling your local county or Tribal agency. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
- Have Social Security numbers ready. Provide one for each person requesting MA, unless an exception is met. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance)
- Submit, and keep a copy. Write down the date you submitted. MA may pay medical bills going back three months from when DHS gets your application. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
For what happens after you hit submit, see What Actually Happens When You Apply for Benefits.
You submit your application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free and never files for you.
Apply as soon as you need coverage instead of waiting for a perfect moment. The three-month look back runs from when DHS gets your application, so the date matters.
What documents should you have ready?
The one item DHS names for everyone is a Social Security number for each person requesting MA, unless an exception is met. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance) For anything else, ask your county or Tribal agency or a free navigator what to send for your household. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
DHS says how much income you can have depends on your household size, age, pregnancy status, whether you are blind or have a disability, and the program, so it helps to have that information in front of you before you start. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) If you are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, the assets that may count are cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certain vehicles, and property where you do not live. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) If you have other health insurance, have that information too, since MA may help pay for it. (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
Make a one-page list before you start: everyone in the household, their ages, each source of income, and any health insurance. It keeps the application moving.
How does renewal work?
You are required to renew your Medical Assistance coverage annually. Between renewals, you must report all changes for yourself and your family members within a certain number of days of the change happening. (Minnesota DHS, Medical Assistance)
A baby whose parent got MA while pregnant has MA through the month of the first birthday, and that coverage cannot stop during the first year while the baby lives in Minnesota (step 3). (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182)
For more on renewing, see our Medicaid renewal guide.
Report a change as soon as it happens, and open every letter from DHS or your county. Ask your county or Tribal agency how many days you have for your type of change.
Which Minnesota Medical Assistance numbers matter most?
- $1,768
- Official DHS monthly income limit (DHS calls it approximate), adult or parent, household of 1
- $3,657
- Official DHS monthly income limit (DHS calls it approximate), adult or parent, household of 4
- 283%
- MA line for infants under 2, percent of poverty guidelines
- 3 months
- How far back MA may pay medical bills from when DHS gets your application
See which Minnesota programs may fit your household, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3182) (Minnesota DHS, DHS-3461A)
What this adds up to
In Minnesota, an adult or parent with income up to $1,768 a month (the official DHS limit, which DHS describes as approximate) may qualify for Medical Assistance, with no monthly premium, and children, pregnant people, and infants have much higher lines. If you are over, a spenddown or MinnesotaCare may still get you covered. Check the date on any chart: MA limits run July to June, MinnesotaCare runs January to December. Your county or Tribal agency makes the decision. If heating bills are part of the squeeze, see the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program guide. For other states, see Kentucky Medicaid income limits, Indiana Medicaid income limits, and Medicaid Income Limits Explained.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked October 2026. Last updated October 23, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Medical Assistance (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Health Care Programs, DHS-3182 (revised 7-26, PDF) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services, Insurance Affordability Programs (IAPs) Income and Asset Guidelines, DHS-3461A (revised 6-26, PDF) (accessed October 17, 2026)
- HHS ASPE, Poverty Guidelines (2026) (accessed October 18, 2026)
