Medicaid Office

Iowa Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Iowa uses MAGI income rules for the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), children's Medicaid, and pregnant women's coverage. There is no asset test for MAGI-based programs. Long-term care Medicaid for seniors and adults with disabilities uses non-MAGI rules that include asset limits. Figures below reflect Iowa HHS's official income guidelines, effective April 1, 2026.

167% FPL

Children ages 1–18 (Medicaid)

300% FPL

Infants under 1

215% FPL

Pregnancy & postpartum

302% FPL

Hawk-i (CHIP)

Iowa Medicaid income limits by coverage group (2026)

Iowa describes the IHAWP income limit as 133% FPL. This is because Iowa HHS, like the federal government, applies the 5% MAGI income disregard before comparing income to the 133% threshold — the practical eligibility ceiling is functionally equivalent to 138% FPL used by most other expansion states. This distinction matters when comparing Iowa's program against other states.

Adults 19–64 — IHAWP

FPL %
133% FPL (≈138% with disregard)
Monthly limit (1 person)
~$1,769/mo
Annual limit (family of 4)
$43,890/yr

Infants under age 1

FPL %
300% FPL
Monthly limit (1 person)
$3,990/mo
Annual limit (family of 4)
$99,000/yr

Children ages 1–18 — Medicaid

FPL %
167% FPL
Monthly limit (1 person)
$2,221/mo
Annual limit (family of 4)
$55,112/yr

Pregnancy & postpartum care

FPL %
215% FPL
Monthly limit (1 person)
N/A (min. household of 2)
Annual limit (family of 4)
$67,080/yr

Children — Hawk-i (CHIP)

FPL %
Up to 302% FPL
Monthly limit (1 person)
$4,017/mo
Annual limit (family of 4)
$99,660/yr

Seniors 65+ and adults with disabilities (LTC)

FPL %
Non-MAGI rules
Monthly limit (1 person)
Separate rules
Annual limit (family of 4)
Asset test applies

No asset test for MAGI programs

IHAWP, children's Medicaid, Hawk-i, and the pregnant women's coverage group have no asset test. Savings, vehicles, and real property do not affect eligibility for these programs.

Iowa's MAGI calculation follows standard federal MAGI rules: wages, self-employment income, and most taxable income count. Child support received by custodial parents does not count. Irregular one-time income (tax refunds, gifts) generally does not count. If you are uncertain about a specific income source, apply and allow Iowa HHS to make the determination.

Children's and infant Medicaid income limits by household size (2026)

Iowa covers infants under age 1 at a much higher income threshold (300% FPL) than children ages 1–18 (167% FPL). Families whose income is too high for free Medicaid but at or below 302% FPL can still get low-cost coverage for their children through Hawk-i (CHIP), with premiums capped at $40 per month per family. Pregnant women's coverage counts the unborn child as a household member, so the minimum household size for that column is 2.

1

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$47,880/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$26,654/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
N/A
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$48,199/yr

2

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$64,920/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$36,140/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
$43,946/yr
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$65,353/yr

3

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$81,960/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$45,626/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
$55,513/yr
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$82,506/yr

4

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$99,000/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$55,112/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
$67,080/yr
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$99,660/yr

5

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$116,040/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$64,598/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
$78,647/yr
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$116,814/yr

6

Infants under 1 (300% FPL)
$133,080/yr
Children 1–18 (167% FPL)
$74,084/yr
Pregnancy & postpartum (215% FPL)
$90,214/yr
Hawk-i CHIP ceiling (302% FPL)
$133,967/yr

Iowa's 133% FPL vs. 138% FPL — why the difference matters

Iowa states its IHAWP income limit as 133% FPL rather than 138% FPL. The difference is a MAGI accounting convention. The ACA requires states to apply a 5% income disregard before testing income against the threshold — effectively, a state that uses 133% with the 5% disregard covers the same population as a state that uses 138% without naming the disregard separately. Iowa HHS explicitly describes the limit as 133% on its eligibility pages. Both approaches are federally compliant and result in the same practical coverage population.

Medicare Savings Programs (QMB) in Iowa

The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan covers adults up to 133% FPL, but that program isn't built for Iowans on Medicare. For Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources, Iowa Medicaid offers the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program and two related tiers, SLMB and QI, which pay Medicare costs the IHAWP eligibility rules never touch.

QMB

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,350/mo

QMB

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$1,824/mo

SLMB

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,616/mo

SLMB

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$2,184/mo

QI

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,816/mo

QI

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$2,455/mo

QMB does the most: it covers the Part A premium for anyone who owes it, the full Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026), and all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments — a benefit worth thousands of dollars a year to someone on a fixed income. QMB income limits are $1,350/month for an individual and $1,824/month for a couple.

SLMB and QI cover the Part B premium only, but the income limits climb higher: $1,616/month individual for SLMB, $1,816/month individual for QI (couple limits $2,184 and $2,455 respectively). QI's funding is federally capped each year, so Iowa HHS processes applications first-come, first-served and requires reapplication annually.

Federal law prevents any provider from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing, regardless of what the provider's billing office claims is owed. QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollees also receive Extra Help automatically, holding Part D drug costs to no more than $12.65 per covered prescription in 2026. Apply through Iowa HHS at hhs.iowa.gov — not through Medicare — since Iowa Medicaid, not the federal government, determines and administers this eligibility.

Iowa Medicaid

Visit the official Iowa Medicaid website

Income Limits in Nearby States

Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska

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