Montana Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Chart by Household Size (Adults, Pregnancy, Healthy Montana Kids)

Montana's own chart, effective April 1, 2026, lets one adult have up to $1,769 a month and a household of four up to $3,658 a month for adults, which is 133% 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 31, 2026 · Methodology & sources

Check your income

Coverage group

People in the household

Income period

Household income before taxes

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 Montana's chart amount for this group.

Your income, a year: $18,000
Household size used in the chart: 1
Montana chart amount, a year, 133%: $21,228
Montana chart amount, a month: $1,769
Chart amount plus 5 percent of FPL, a year: $22,024.80

This is not an eligibility decision. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) decides what income counts (MAGI rules), who is in the household and the final result. Apply to find out: DPHHS Changes to Medicaid: how to apply (apply.mt.gov, mail, in person or by phone).

Montana Medicaid income limit chart, 2026

Monthly and annual limits by household size for each group the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) 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 size	Adults and parents 19 to 64 (ACA Adult)133%Effective April 1, 2026	Pregnant women (ACA Pregnancy)157%Effective April 1, 2026	Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids Plus, Medicaid)143%Effective April 1, 2026	Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids, Insurance)261%Effective April 1, 2026
1	$1,769 a month$21,228 a year	$2,088 a month$25,056 a year	$1,902 a month$22,824 a year	$3,471 a month$41,652 a year
2	$2,398 a month$28,776 a year	$2,831 a month$33,972 a year	$2,579 a month$30,948 a year	$4,707 a month$56,484 a year
3	$3,028 a month$36,336 a year	$3,574 a month$42,888 a year	$3,256 a month$39,072 a year	$5,942 a month$71,304 a year
4	$3,658 a month$43,896 a year	$4,318 a month$51,816 a year	$3,933 a month$47,196 a year	$7,178 a month$86,136 a year
5	$4,287 a month$51,444 a year	$5,061 a month$60,732 a year	$4,609 a month$55,308 a year	$8,413 a month$100,956 a year
6	$4,917 a month$59,004 a year	$5,804 a month$69,648 a year	$5,286 a month$63,432 a year	$9,648 a month$115,776 a year
7	$5,546 a month$66,552 a year	$6,547 a month$78,564 a year	$5,963 a month$71,556 a year	$10,884 a month$130,608 a year
8	$6,176 a month$74,112 a year	$7,290 a month$87,480 a year	$6,640 a month$79,680 a year	$12,119 a month$145,428 a year

Adults and parents 19 to 64 (ACA Adult): The table prints the plain 133 percent, monthly, for sizes 1 to 16 (this page shows 1 to 8); the 5 percent disregard is applied separately in the checker.
Pregnant women (ACA Pregnancy): The table lists sizes 1 to 16 and does not say how an expected child is counted; the checker counts the woman plus the children she expects (42 CFR 435.603(b)).
Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids Plus, Medicaid): HMK Plus (Medicaid) is the 143 percent table, and the table prints the plain percentage; the 5 percent disregard is applied separately in the checker, and the 261 percent HMK (Insurance) table begins above it.
Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids, Insurance): The table prints the plain 261 percent; the 5 percent disregard is applied separately in the checker.

Each DPHHS Table of Standards used here (ACA 007 adults, ACA 004 pregnancy, ACA 005 Healthy Montana Kids) says its standards are effective April 1, 2026 and supersedes the April 1, 2025 edition. The 2025 editions are not used. Parents and caretaker relatives ages 19-64 are in the ACA Adult table.
DPHHS says adults 19 to 64 in Medicaid Expansion must complete 80 hours each month of approved activities unless they qualify for an exclusion, and lists qualifying activities such as work, volunteering, approved training, an internship or apprenticeship, or school at least half time. This requirement does not change the income limits above.

Chart sources: Montana DPHHS: ACA/Family Medicaid 007, Table of Standards for ACA Adult Medicaid (effective 04/01/2026); Montana DPHHS: ACA/Family Medicaid 004, Table of Standards for ACA Pregnancy Income (effective April 1, 2026); Montana DPHHS: ACA/Family Medicaid 005, Table of Standards for Healthy Montana Kids, HMK and HMK Plus (effective 04/01/2026).

How Montana 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 Montana's chart, the amounts for Adults and parents 19 to 64 (ACA Adult); Pregnant women (ACA Pregnancy); Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids Plus, Medicaid); Children under 19 (Healthy Montana Kids, Insurance) are the plain percentage. The checker above adds 5 percent of the 2026 guideline to those amounts as its own calculation to show income that is just over the printed amount.

Montana Medicaid programs and expansion

DPHHS's Table of Standards ACA 007 covers individuals and parents or caretaker relatives ages 19-64 whose household income does not exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level, and its Changes to Medicaid page calls the adult group Medicaid Expansion. Medicaid.gov's table, as of December 1, 2023, shows 133% for Montana.

ACA Adult Medicaid. DPHHS's Medicaid manual table ACA 007 sets the ACA Adult and ACA Adult Medicaid standard for individuals and parents or caretaker relatives ages 19-64 who meet the nonfinancial criteria, at household income not above 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
ACA Pregnancy Medicaid. DPHHS's table ACA 004 says pregnant women may qualify for categorically needy Medicaid if they meet the nonfinancial criteria and household income does not exceed 157 percent of the federal poverty level standard.
Healthy Montana Kids Plus (Medicaid) and Healthy Montana Kids (Insurance). DPHHS's table ACA 005 says children under age nineteen may qualify for ACA Healthy Montana Kids Plus (Medicaid) at household income up to 143 percent of the federal poverty level, or for ACA Healthy Montana Kids (Insurance) up to 261 percent.

How to apply for Medicaid in Montana

DPHHS says you can apply online at apply.mt.gov, by mail to Human and Community Services Division, PO Box 202925, Helena, MT 59602-2925, in person at a local Office of Public Assistance, or by phone through the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535. You can also apply through the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which sends your information to the state agency if you may qualify.

DPHHS Changes to Medicaid: how to apply (apply.mt.gov, mail, in person or by phone) · HealthCare.gov Medicaid and CHIP

Montana Medicaid changes in 2027

The Department of Public Health and Human Services says Montana began its community engagement requirement for Medicaid Expansion adults on July 1, 2026, that expansion members will be redetermined every six months effective January 1, 2027 (not American Indian and Alaska Native members), and that retroactive coverage for the expansion group goes from 3 months to 1 month on January 1, 2027.

“Montana went live with implementation of the community engagement requirements for the Medicaid Expansion population on July 1, 2026.”

Montana DPHHS, Changes to Medicaid, Frequently Asked Questions (source)

“Many adults enrolled in Medicaid Expansion may need to meet the community engagement requirement through qualifying activities such as work, education, volunteer service, or job training. Some individuals may be excluded due to age, health, or other status.”

Montana DPHHS, Changes to Medicaid (source)

“Due to new requirements in H.R. 1, clients on Medicaid Expansion will now be redetermined, or re-checked for eligibility, every six months instead of annually. This does not apply to individuals who are American Indian/Alaska Native. This change will be effective as of January 1, 2027.”

Montana DPHHS, Changes to Medicaid (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 Montana Medicaid income limit in 2026?

Montana's own chart, effective April 1, 2026, lets one adult have up to $1,769 a month and a household of four up to $3,658 a month for adults, which is 133% of the federal poverty level.

Did Montana expand Medicaid?

How do I apply for Medicaid in Montana?

What changes for Montana Medicaid in 2027?

Do the same limits apply to Montana 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 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) or see Medicare vs Medicaid on this site.

How often does Montana update its Medicaid income limits?

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

FedRateCalc is not a government site and cannot decide eligibility. Charts change when the state updates them; confirm with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) before relying on a figure.

Sources

All sources are government pages, read October 31, 2026. The Medicaid.gov table is dated December 1, 2023 and is used only as a cross-check.