North Dakota Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Income limits for North Dakota Medicaid vary by coverage group and household size. Figures below are approximate — verify current thresholds with North Dakota Medicaid directly.

North Dakota Medicaid income limits by coverage group (2026)

Coverage group	FPL %	Monthly limit (household of 1)	Monthly limit (household of 4)
Adults ages 19–64 (Medicaid Expansion)	138% FPL	$1,836/mo	$3,795/mo
Children birth through age 5	152% FPL	$2,022/mo	$4,180/mo
Children ages 6–18	138% FPL	$1,836/mo	$3,795/mo
Pregnant women	175% FPL	$2,328/mo	$4,813/mo
Parents and caretaker relatives	41% FPL	$517/mo	$1,048/mo
Aged, blind, or disabled (ABD)	90% FPL	$1,197/mo	$2,475/mo
CHIP (Healthy Steps)	205% FPL	$2,727/mo	$5,638/mo

Adults ages 19–64 (Medicaid Expansion)

FPL %: 138% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $1,836/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $3,795/mo

Children birth through age 5

FPL %: 152% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $2,022/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $4,180/mo

Children ages 6–18

FPL %: 138% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $1,836/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $3,795/mo

Pregnant women

FPL %: 175% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $2,328/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $4,813/mo

Parents and caretaker relatives

FPL %: 41% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $517/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $1,048/mo

Aged, blind, or disabled (ABD)

FPL %: 90% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $1,197/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $2,475/mo

CHIP (Healthy Steps)

FPL %: 205% FPL
Monthly limit (household of 1): $2,727/mo
Monthly limit (household of 4): $5,638/mo

No asset test for most North Dakota Medicaid groups

MAGI-based Medicaid — which covers expansion adults, children, pregnant women, and parents — does not use an asset test. Savings accounts, vehicles, and home equity are not counted. Only the aged, blind, and disabled group has a financial asset review.

For ABD coverage, the asset limit is $3,000 for a single person and $6,000 for a couple. Excluded assets include the person's home, one vehicle, household furnishings, irrevocable burial plans, and certain personal items. The long-term care asset limit is the same — $3,000 for a single applicant — with an additional spousal protection amount for married couples.

Client share for people over the income limit

North Dakota operates a "client share" option for people in certain groups (aged/blind/disabled, children, pregnant women, and parents) whose income exceeds the standard Medicaid limit but who have high medical bills. Client share works like a monthly deductible — the applicant must pay a calculated share amount toward their medical bills before Medicaid pays.

The client share amount equals the household's monthly gross countable income minus allowable deductions and minus the applicable income limit. This approach allows people with significant medical needs to access Medicaid even if their income is above the standard threshold. Contact ND HHS at 1-800-755-2604 to determine if client share may apply to your situation.

Medicare Savings Programs (QMB) in North Dakota

North Dakota runs three Medicare Savings Programs through its Human Service Zone offices for residents enrolled in both Medicare and North Dakota Medicaid: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualifying Individual (QI). QMB is the tier most people mean when they search "North Dakota QMB" — it's the only one that pays more than a premium.

Program	Situation	Monthly income limit
QMB	Individual	$1,350/mo
QMB	Married couple	$1,824/mo
SLMB	Individual	$1,616/mo
SLMB	Married couple	$2,184/mo
QI	Individual	$1,816/mo
QI	Married couple	$2,455/mo

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

Situation: Individual
Monthly income limit: $1,816/mo

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

For 2026, QMB income limits are $1,350/mo for an individual and $1,824/mo for a married couple, with resource limits of $9,950 and $14,910. QMB covers the Part A premium if one applies, the full Part B premium of $202.90/mo, and every Medicare deductible, coinsurance amount, and copayment — providers cannot legally bill a QMB enrollee for any of that cost-sharing.

SLMB and QI sit higher on the income scale and pay only the Part B premium: SLMB up to $1,616/mo individual ($2,184/mo couple), QI up to $1,816/mo individual ($2,455/mo couple), both using the same resource limits as QMB. QI funding is capped each year and distributed first-come, first-served, so recipients must reapply annually.

Enrollment in any tier brings automatic Extra Help, which limits Part D drug copays to no more than $12.65 per covered prescription in 2026. Apply the same way you'd apply for standard North Dakota Medicaid — online at hhs.nd.gov/healthcare/medicaid/apply, by calling the Customer Support Center at 1-800-755-2604, or in person at your local Human Service Zone office — and mention that you're applying for a Medicare Savings Program so your case is routed correctly.