Montana Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Montana expanded Medicaid under the HELP Act, effective January 1, 2016. The expansion covers adults 19–64 at or below 138% FPL. Children qualify at significantly higher income levels through either Medicaid or the Healthy Montana Kids CHIP program. Figures below are from the DPHHS "Approximate Monthly Income to Qualify for Montana Medicaid" chart published at dphhs.mt.gov — verify current amounts there, as DPHHS updates this chart when new federal poverty guidelines take effect.

Montana Medicaid income limits by coverage group

Coverage group	FPL %	Monthly limit (household of 1)	Monthly limit (household of 4)
Adults ages 19–64 (HELP Act expansion)	138% FPL	~$1,769/mo	~$3,658/mo
Pregnant women	158% FPL	~$2,088/mo	~$4,318/mo
Children (Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids)	Up to 261% FPL	~$3,471/mo	~$7,178/mo

Adults ages 19–64 (HELP Act expansion)

FPL %: 138% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): ~$1,769/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): ~$3,658/mo

Pregnant women

FPL %: 158% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): ~$2,088/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): ~$4,318/mo

Children (Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids)

FPL %: Up to 261% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): ~$3,471/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): ~$7,178/mo

No asset test for MAGI-based Montana Medicaid

Montana does not use an asset test for MAGI-based Medicaid — the category covering adults 19–64, children, and pregnant women. Savings, vehicles, and home equity are not counted. This is the same rule across all ACA expansion states.

Montana Medicaid long-term care programs — nursing facility coverage and home-based waiver services for seniors and people with disabilities — do apply asset limits. These follow the federal spousal impoverishment rules. Contact DPHHS Aging Services Division for current long-term care asset limits.

Montana's HELP Act expansion: adults without children included

Before the HELP Act expansion took effect in January 2016, Montana Medicaid generally did not cover adults 19–64 who did not have dependent children, except through narrow disability-based pathways. The HELP Act changed this — all adults at or below 138% FPL now qualify, regardless of parental or disability status.

Per DPHHS, approximately 100,000 Montanans gained coverage when the HELP Act expansion took effect. Montana voters reinforced this expansion when they approved a ballot initiative in November 2018 to make the HELP Act permanent, removing the sunset provision from the original legislation.

Healthy Montana Kids: income limits for children

Children up to age 19 qualify for coverage at significantly higher income levels than adults. The Healthy Montana Kids CHIP program covers children whose family income falls between the standard Medicaid threshold and 261% FPL. Monthly premiums apply for families at higher income levels within the Healthy Montana Kids range — typically modest amounts. Both programs accept a single application and are administered through DPHHS.