Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits 2026: kynect Chart by Household Size

Kentucky's own chart, effective April 1, 2026, lets one adult have up to $1,836 a month and a household of four up to $3,795 a month for adults, which is 138% of the federal poverty level. Every figure below comes from the state agency's own chart, effective April 1, 2026, not from federal averages or the old Medicaid.gov table.

Maintained by Archie Chang · Charts and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources

Check your income

$

Enter the whole household's countable income. States count income with MAGI rules, so this is a starting point, not a decision.

Result

Your income is at or below Kentucky's chart amount for this group.

Your income, a year
$18,000
Household size used in the chart
1
Kentucky chart amount, a year, 138%
$22,032
Kentucky chart amount, a month
$1,836

This is not an eligibility decision. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) decides what income counts (MAGI rules), who is in the household and the final result. Apply to find out: kynect benefits.

Kentucky Medicaid income limit chart, 2026

Monthly and annual limits by household size for each group the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) prints. Bold figures are printed by the state; italic figures are FedRateCalc's calculation (a monthly figure times 12, an annual figure divided by 12). The state chart effective date is April 1, 2026.

Medicaid income limits by household size and coverage group
Household sizeAdults ("Eligible for MAGI Medicaid")138%Effective April 1, 2026Children under 19 and pregnant women, 147% column147%Effective April 1, 2026Children under 19 and pregnant women, 200% column200%Effective April 1, 2026Children under 19, uninsured, 218% column218%Effective April 1, 2026Pregnant women, 200% column (chart heading: "Children (Under 19 Years Old) and Pregnant Women Eligible for Medicaid")200%Effective April 1, 2026Pregnant women, uninsured, 218% column218%Effective April 1, 2026
1$1,836 a month$22,032 a year$1,956 a month$23,472 a year$2,660 a month$31,920 a year$2,900 a month$34,800 a year$2,660 a month$31,920 a year$2,900 a month$34,800 a year
2$2,489 a month$29,868 a year$2,651 a month$31,812 a year$3,607 a month$43,284 a year$3,932 a month$47,184 a year$3,607 a month$43,284 a year$3,932 a month$47,184 a year
3$3,142 a month$37,704 a year$3,347 a month$40,164 a year$4,554 a month$54,648 a year$4,964 a month$59,568 a year$4,554 a month$54,648 a year$4,964 a month$59,568 a year
4$3,795 a month$45,540 a year$4,043 a month$48,516 a year$5,500 a month$66,000 a year$5,995 a month$71,940 a year$5,500 a month$66,000 a year$5,995 a month$71,940 a year
5$4,449 a month$53,388 a year$4,739 a month$56,868 a year$6,447 a month$77,364 a year$7,027 a month$84,324 a year$6,447 a month$77,364 a year$7,027 a month$84,324 a year
6$5,102 a month$61,224 a year$5,435 a month$65,220 a year$7,394 a month$88,728 a year$8,059 a month$96,708 a year$7,394 a month$88,728 a year$8,059 a month$96,708 a year
7$5,755 a month$69,060 a year$6,130 a month$73,560 a year$8,340 a month$100,080 a year$9,091 a month$109,092 a year$8,340 a month$100,080 a year$9,091 a month$109,092 a year
8$6,408 a month$76,896 a year$6,826 a month$81,912 a year$9,287 a month$111,444 a year$10,123 a month$121,476 a year$9,287 a month$111,444 a year$10,123 a month$121,476 a year
  • Children under 19 and pregnant women, 147% column: The chart does not say which column applies to which age or to pregnancy, so this group is labelled as the chart labels it. A pregnant woman's household also counts the children she is expected to deliver (42 CFR 435.603(b)); use the pregnant groups below for that.
  • Children under 19 and pregnant women, 200% column: Same chart heading as the 147% column; the chart gives no further label.
  • Children under 19, uninsured, 218% column: The chart note says 200 to 218% FPL Medicaid is for children and pregnant women who are uninsured; the Kid's Health KCHIP page names 218 percent for uninsured children younger than 19.
  • Pregnant women, 200% column (chart heading: "Children (Under 19 Years Old) and Pregnant Women Eligible for Medicaid"): Same amounts as the 200% column. The chart does not say that this column is the one for pregnant women; it is labelled as the chart labels it, and the 218% column is marked "uninsured" only. The Kentucky pages checked do not say how a pregnant woman's household is counted; this checker follows the federal rule in 42 CFR 435.603(b).
  • Pregnant women, uninsured, 218% column: Same amounts as the 218% column, for the uninsured women the chart note and the KCHIP page describe. The Kentucky pages checked do not say how a pregnant woman's household is counted; this checker follows the federal rule in 42 CFR 435.603(b).
  • The KHBE chart puts its 147%, 200% and 218% columns under one heading, "Children (Under 19 Years Old) and Pregnant Women Eligible for Medicaid", and does not say which column applies to which child age or to pregnancy. Its note reads "200 -218% FPL Medicaid for children and pregnant women who are uninsured".
  • The chart notes say the Medicaid table was updated March 2026 and is effective April 1, 2026 ongoing, and that the 2026 FPL is used to calculate eligibility for Medicaid and KCHIP.
  • The Kid's Health KCHIP page still prints a dollar table (for example $2,736 a month for one person) that equals 218 percent of the 2024 poverty guidelines, so this page does not use it.
  • The chart's adult column is 138% while the CMS table of December 1, 2023 shows 133% for the expansion group, so the 138% is 133% plus 5 points by FedRateCalc's arithmetic; the chart does not say so itself.

Chart sources: Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange: Federal Poverty Level chart, 2026 Medicaid Table (April 2026 ongoing); Kentucky Kid's Health: Am I Eligible? (KCHIP).

How Kentucky counts the 5 percent disregard

Federal rules tell states to subtract 5 percentage points of the poverty level from income for the eligibility group with the highest income standard. That is why some state charts print a percentage such as 133% and others print the total, such as 138%.

“Effective January 1, 2014, in determining the eligibility of an individual using MAGI-based income, a state must subtract an amount equivalent to 5 percentage points of the Federal poverty level for the applicable family size only to determine the eligibility of an individual for medical assistance under the eligibility group with the highest income standard using MAGI-based methodologies in the applicable Title of the Act, but not to determine eligibility for a particular eligibility group.”
42 CFR 435.603(d)(4) (source)

The household size in the chart for a pregnant woman counts the children she is expected to deliver:

“In the case of determining the family size of a pregnant woman, the pregnant woman is counted as herself plus the number of children she is expected to deliver. In the case of determining the family size of other individuals who have a pregnant woman in their household, the pregnant woman is counted, at State option, as either 1 or 2 person(s) or as herself plus the number of children she is expected to deliver.”
42 CFR 435.603(b), definition of family size (source)

In Kentucky's chart, the amounts for Adults ("Eligible for MAGI Medicaid") equal 133% plus 5 points by FedRateCalc's arithmetic; the chart does not say the 5% disregard is included, so the checker adds nothing on top.

Kentucky Medicaid programs and expansion

The Department for Medicaid Services says its work requirement applies to adults ages 19 to 64 enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, "also known as Medicaid Expansion". The Kentucky chart prints 138% for MAGI Medicaid; by FedRateCalc's arithmetic that is the 133% expansion group plus 5 points, which the chart does not say itself.

  • Medicaid expansion adults. The chart column headed "Eligible for MAGI Medicaid" at 138%.
  • Children and pregnant women. The chart has three columns, 147%, 200% and 218%, under one heading for children under 19 and pregnant women. Its note says 200 to 218% FPL Medicaid is for children and pregnant women who are uninsured.
  • KCHIP (Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program). The chart says the 2026 FPL is used to calculate eligibility for Medicaid and KCHIP. The Kid's Health page says uninsured children younger than 19, pregnant women and women within 12 months postpartum qualify at or below 218 percent.

How to apply for Medicaid in Kentucky

The Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange chart says to apply for coverage online at kynect.ky.gov or to call 855.459.6328. HealthCare.gov also takes Medicaid applications.

kynect benefits · HealthCare.gov Medicaid and CHIP

Kentucky Medicaid changes in 2027

Kentucky's Department for Medicaid Services and Health Benefit Exchange pages both give January 1, 2027 and say the requirement applies to adults 19 to 64 enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, also known as Medicaid Expansion.

“Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 to 64 will need to meet a new work or community engagement requirement to apply for or keep their Medicaid coverage. This applies to those enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, also known as Medicaid Expansion.”
Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, Medicaid Work and Community Engagement (source)
“Note: Certain people are exempt, including people who are pregnant, have a disability or serious health condition, or provide care for a child age 13 or younger or for someone with a disability.”
Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, Medicaid Work and Community Engagement (source)

The federal law behind these changes, Public Law 119-21, is explained with its exemptions and dates on the Medicaid income limits page. The income limits in the table above do not change because of it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Kentucky Medicaid income limit in 2026?

Kentucky's own chart, effective April 1, 2026, lets one adult have up to $1,836 a month and a household of four up to $3,795 a month for adults, which is 138% of the federal poverty level.

Did Kentucky expand Medicaid?

The Department for Medicaid Services says its work requirement applies to adults ages 19 to 64 enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, "also known as Medicaid Expansion". The Kentucky chart prints 138% for MAGI Medicaid; by FedRateCalc's arithmetic that is the 133% expansion group plus 5 points, which the chart does not say itself.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange chart says to apply for coverage online at kynect.ky.gov or to call 855.459.6328. HealthCare.gov also takes Medicaid applications.

What changes for Kentucky Medicaid in 2027?

Kentucky's Department for Medicaid Services and Health Benefit Exchange pages both give January 1, 2027 and say the requirement applies to adults 19 to 64 enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, also known as Medicaid Expansion. The charts on this page are 2026 charts; the community engagement requirement and six-month renewals are separate from the income limits.

Do the same limits apply to Kentucky seniors and people with disabilities?

No. Medicaid for people who are aged, blind or disabled uses different income and resource rules from the MAGI groups in this chart. Ask the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) or see Medicare vs Medicaid on this site.

How often does Kentucky update its Medicaid income limits?

The charts follow the federal poverty guidelines, which HHS updates each year, and Kentucky's chart took effect April 1, 2026. FedRateCalc will look for Kentucky's 2027 chart after HHS publishes the 2027 guidelines.

Related pages

FedRateCalc is not a government site and cannot decide eligibility. Charts change when the state updates them; confirm with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) before relying on a figure.

Sources

All sources are government pages, read October 30, 2026, except the pages marked below, which were read from Internet Archive captures because the agency's site refused direct connections. The Medicaid.gov table is dated December 1, 2023 and is used only as a cross-check.