Georgia Medicaid Income Limits
Updated August 2026
Income limits are expressed as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The 2026 FPL for a single person is $15,960 per year ($1,330/month); for a family of four, $33,000 per year. Figures below reflect DCH's official 2026 Financial Limits and 2026 ABD & Family Medicaid Income and Resource Limits documents, effective March 1, 2026 / January 1, 2026 respectively.
~24% FPL
Parents / caretaker limit
220% FPL
Pregnant women
247% FPL
PeachCare for Kids (CHIP)
Coverage gap
Most adults without children
Most adults without children fall into the coverage gap — Georgia has not expanded Medicaid
In expansion states, adults qualify up to 138% FPL regardless of family status. Georgia has not adopted this expansion. An uninsured single adult earning $18,000/year likely does not qualify for Georgia Medicaid through any standard category, unless they meet the Pathways work requirement or qualify on another basis (pregnancy, disability, former foster care under 26).
Georgia Medicaid income limits by eligibility group (2026)
| Eligibility group | Income limit (% FPL) | Asset test? |
|---|---|---|
| Children under age 1 (RSM) | Up to 205% FPL | No |
| Children ages 1–5 (RSM) | Up to 149% FPL | No |
| Children ages 6–19 (RSM Medicaid) | Up to 133% FPL | No |
| PeachCare for Kids (CHIP) | Up to 247% FPL | No |
| Pregnant women | Up to 220% FPL | No |
| Parents / caretaker relatives | ~24% FPL | No |
| Georgia Pathways (adults 19–64) | Up to 100% FPL | No |
| SSI recipients | Automatic — $994/mo individual (2026) | Yes (SSI rules) |
| Nursing facility / community care (aged, blind, disabled) | $2,982/mo individual (2026) | Yes — $2,000 individual limit |
| Former foster care youth (under 26) | No income limit | No |
Children under age 1 (RSM)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 205% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
Children ages 1–5 (RSM)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 149% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
Children ages 6–19 (RSM Medicaid)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 133% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
PeachCare for Kids (CHIP)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 247% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
Pregnant women
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 220% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
Parents / caretaker relatives
- Income limit (% FPL)
- ~24% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
Georgia Pathways (adults 19–64)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Up to 100% FPL
- Asset test?
- No
SSI recipients
- Income limit (% FPL)
- Automatic — $994/mo individual (2026)
- Asset test?
- Yes (SSI rules)
Nursing facility / community care (aged, blind, disabled)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- $2,982/mo individual (2026)
- Asset test?
- Yes — $2,000 individual limit
Former foster care youth (under 26)
- Income limit (% FPL)
- No income limit
- Asset test?
- No
The parent income limit: approximately 24% FPL
Georgia's income limit for parents and caretaker relatives of dependent children is among the lowest in the United States. Per DCH's official 2026 ABD & Family Medicaid Income and Resource Limits, the monthly limit is $310 for a household of one, $457 for two, $551 for three, and $653 for four — roughly 24% of the Federal Poverty Level. A parent working even part-time at minimum wage likely earns too much.
This is not a MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) exclusion or a calculation error. It reflects Georgia's policy choice not to extend eligibility further for parents — distinct from the Medicaid expansion decision, which applies to childless adults.
How income is counted: MAGI vs. non-MAGI rules
For most eligibility groups — children, pregnant women, parents, and Pathways participants — Georgia uses MAGI-based income counting rules. MAGI rules generally mirror how income is reported on a federal tax return. They do not count assets like savings accounts or car equity toward the income calculation.
Non-MAGI rules apply to aged, blind, and disabled applicants and to nursing facility applicants. These groups face both an income limit and an asset test. The asset limit for a single individual applying for nursing facility Medicaid in Georgia is $2,000 in countable assets. A primary residence, one vehicle, and personal belongings are typically excluded from the asset count.
Spouses of nursing facility applicants may retain a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) — a protected amount of assets — plus a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) of protected income. For 2026, Georgia's MMNA is $4,066.50/month, effective January 1, 2026. Contact DCH or a Medicaid planning attorney for the current CSRA minimum and maximum.
Georgia Pathways income limit: 100% FPL with an activity requirement
Georgia Pathways covers adults ages 19–64 at or below 100% FPL — roughly $15,960 per year for a single person in 2026. The income limit is lower than full expansion (138% FPL) and the program carries a monthly 80-hour community engagement requirement. Both conditions must be met every month.
Adults between 100% and 138% FPL are not eligible for Georgia Medicaid under Pathways or any other category (unless they qualify on another basis such as pregnancy or disability). They fall in an income range where federal marketplace subsidies currently apply — check healthcare.gov for plan options.
Georgia does not have a general Medicaid spend-down program for most adults
Some states allow adults who exceed the income limit to "spend down" medical expenses until they reach the eligibility threshold. Georgia's medically needy spend-down program is limited primarily to pregnant women, children, and some elderly or disabled individuals. Working-age adults without children generally cannot use spend-down to qualify. Contact DCH at 1-877-423-4746 to ask whether your specific situation might qualify under the medically needy category.
The coverage gap for Georgia adults
Based on the 2026 FPL of $15,960 for a single person. Childless adults are the primary affected group. Parents, pregnant women, and SSI recipients follow different rules.
| Income range (single adult) | Status in Georgia | Options |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – ~$15,960/yr (≤100% FPL) | Pathways only (work req.) | Georgia Pathways if 80 hrs/mo community engagement met; otherwise uninsured |
| $15,960 – $22,025/yr (100%–138% FPL) | Coverage gap | No Medicaid path; check healthcare.gov for marketplace subsidies |
| $22,025+ (above 138% FPL) | Marketplace eligible | Enhanced premium tax credits available through healthcare.gov |
$0 – ~$15,960/yr (≤100% FPL)
- Status in Georgia
- Pathways only (work req.)
- Options
- Georgia Pathways if 80 hrs/mo community engagement met; otherwise uninsured
$15,960 – $22,025/yr (100%–138% FPL)
- Status in Georgia
- Coverage gap
- Options
- No Medicaid path; check healthcare.gov for marketplace subsidies
$22,025+ (above 138% FPL)
- Status in Georgia
- Marketplace eligible
- Options
- Enhanced premium tax credits available through healthcare.gov
Georgia vs neighboring states: adult Medicaid eligibility
| State | Expansion? | Adult income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | No (Pathways only) | ~24% FPL (parents); 100% Pathways |
| North Carolina | Yes (Dec 2023) | 138% FPL |
| Virginia | Yes (2019) | 138% FPL |
| Tennessee | No | ~106% FPL (parents) |
| Florida | No | ~27% FPL (parents) |
| Alabama | No | ~18% FPL (parents) |
Georgia
- Expansion?
- No (Pathways only)
- Adult income limit
- ~24% FPL (parents); 100% Pathways
North Carolina
- Expansion?
- Yes (Dec 2023)
- Adult income limit
- 138% FPL
Virginia
- Expansion?
- Yes (2019)
- Adult income limit
- 138% FPL
Tennessee
- Expansion?
- No
- Adult income limit
- ~106% FPL (parents)
Florida
- Expansion?
- No
- Adult income limit
- ~27% FPL (parents)
Alabama
- Expansion?
- No
- Adult income limit
- ~18% FPL (parents)
Georgia Medicaid
Visit the official Georgia Medicaid websiteRelated guides
Income Limits
Current income cutoffs by state and household size, tied to the Federal Poverty Level.
Read more →Spend-Down
How to qualify by deducting medical bills from income that's above the limit.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →