Ohio Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Ohio Medicaid uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) methodology to determine eligibility for most coverage groups. MAGI counts most taxable income but excludes child support received, certain veteran's benefits, and other specific items. Social Security income is not counted for children and certain other groups. Coverage is organized under a few named programs: Group VIII (ACA expansion adults), Healthy Start (children and pregnant women), and Healthy Families (parents and caretaker relatives), per the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Pregnant women who qualify remain covered for a full 12 months after delivery, not just the 60-day minimum required under federal law.

138% FPL

Adults 19–64

156% FPL

Children (Medicaid)

200% FPL

Pregnant women

No asset test

MAGI groups (not LTC)

H.R. 1 may affect eligibility thresholds for some adult groups

Federal H.R. 1 (2025) introduced community engagement requirements for certain adults enrolled in the ACA expansion group. Ohio is implementing these requirements per federal guidance. Failure to meet or report community engagement hours could result in coverage loss even if income remains within the 138% FPL threshold.

Ohio Medicaid income limits by coverage group

Coverage group	Income limit (FPL%)	Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026)	Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026)
Adults 19–64 (ACA expansion / Group VIII)	138% FPL	~$1,835/mo	~$3,795/mo
Parents/caretaker relatives (Healthy Families)	90% FPL	~$1,197/mo	~$2,475/mo
Children under 19 (Healthy Start Medicaid)	Up to 156% FPL	~$2,075/mo	~$4,290/mo
Children under 19, uninsured (Healthy Start CHIP)	Up to 206% FPL	~$2,740/mo	~$5,665/mo
Pregnant women (Healthy Start)	200% FPL	~$2,660/mo	~$5,500/mo
Regular Medicaid — aged, blind, or disabled (ABD)	SSI-linked	~$994/mo (single)	~$1,491/mo (couple)
Nursing facility / HCBS waivers (Special Income Limit)	300% of SSI FBR	~$2,982/mo (individual)	N/A — individual limit

Adults 19–64 (ACA expansion / Group VIII)

Income limit (FPL%): 138% FPL
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$1,835/mo
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$3,795/mo

Parents/caretaker relatives (Healthy Families)

Income limit (FPL%): 90% FPL
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$1,197/mo
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$2,475/mo

Children under 19 (Healthy Start Medicaid)

Income limit (FPL%): Up to 156% FPL
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$2,075/mo
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$4,290/mo

Children under 19, uninsured (Healthy Start CHIP)

Income limit (FPL%): Up to 206% FPL
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$2,740/mo
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$5,665/mo

Pregnant women (Healthy Start)

Income limit (FPL%): 200% FPL
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$2,660/mo
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$5,500/mo

Regular Medicaid — aged, blind, or disabled (ABD)

Income limit (FPL%): SSI-linked
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$994/mo (single)
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): ~$1,491/mo (couple)

Nursing facility / HCBS waivers (Special Income Limit)

Income limit (FPL%): 300% of SSI FBR
Approx. monthly limit — 1 person (2026): ~$2,982/mo (individual)
Approx. monthly limit — 4 people (2026): N/A — individual limit

No asset test for MAGI-based Ohio Medicaid

For adults, children, and pregnant women covered under MAGI methodology, Ohio Medicaid does not consider assets. A checking account with $50,000, a paid-off car, or equity in a home does not count against eligibility. Only income matters for these groups. This is a common misconception — many people assume Medicaid will count their savings and decline to apply when they might qualify.

The asset test does apply to long-term care programs for seniors. An individual applicant seeking nursing facility coverage faces a $2,000 resource limit (the federal minimum). Spousal protections apply — a community spouse can retain significantly more. See the seniors and long-term care page for details on asset rules and spend-down.

What counts as income for Ohio Medicaid?

MAGI-based income counts wages, salary, tips, self-employment net income, unemployment compensation, taxable Social Security benefits (for adults), alimony received (if from a pre-2019 divorce agreement), rental income, and most investment income. It does not count child support you receive, SNAP benefits, SSI payments, veterans' disability compensation, or workers' compensation.

Household size matters. A single adult at 138% FPL qualifies; add a spouse and two children, and the 138% threshold rises to cover a higher dollar amount because the household is larger. Ohio Benefits uses household composition as entered on the application to determine the applicable threshold.

Parents and caretaker relatives qualify under the Healthy Families program at a much lower threshold — up to 90% FPL, and only with a dependent child under 19 in the home. This is separate from the 138% FPL Group VIII expansion category, which does not require a dependent child. A parent whose income exceeds 90% FPL but stays under 138% FPL should still apply, since they may qualify as an expansion adult rather than under Healthy Families.

Self-employed applicants use net income after deducting allowable business expenses. Seasonal or irregular income is averaged over a 12-month period in most cases. If your income fluctuates significantly month to month, ask your county CJFS worker how they'll calculate it — the method can make a difference.

2026 income limits by household size

Household size	138% FPL (adults)	200% FPL (pregnant)	156% FPL (children)
1 person	~$1,835/mo	~$2,660/mo	~$2,075/mo
2 people	~$2,489/mo	~$3,607/mo	~$2,813/mo
3 people	~$3,142/mo	~$4,553/mo	~$3,552/mo
4 people	~$3,795/mo	~$5,500/mo	~$4,290/mo
5 people	~$4,448/mo	~$6,447/mo	~$5,028/mo
6 people	~$5,101/mo	~$7,393/mo	~$5,767/mo

1 person

138% FPL (adults): ~$1,835/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$2,660/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$2,075/mo

2 people

138% FPL (adults): ~$2,489/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$3,607/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$2,813/mo

3 people

138% FPL (adults): ~$3,142/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$4,553/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$3,552/mo

4 people

138% FPL (adults): ~$3,795/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$5,500/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$4,290/mo

5 people

138% FPL (adults): ~$4,448/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$6,447/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$5,028/mo

6 people

138% FPL (adults): ~$5,101/mo
200% FPL (pregnant): ~$7,393/mo
156% FPL (children): ~$5,767/mo

Ohio vs neighboring states: adult Medicaid income limits

State	Expansion?	Adult income limit
Ohio	Yes (2014)	138% FPL
Pennsylvania	Yes (2015)	138% FPL
Michigan	Yes (2014)	138% FPL
Indiana	Yes (HIP 2.0, 2015)	138% FPL
Kentucky	Yes (2014)	138% FPL
West Virginia	Yes (2014)	138% FPL

Ohio

Expansion?: Yes (2014)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

Pennsylvania

Expansion?: Yes (2015)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

Michigan

Expansion?: Yes (2014)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

Indiana

Expansion?: Yes (HIP 2.0, 2015)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

Kentucky

Expansion?: Yes (2014)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

West Virginia

Expansion?: Yes (2014)
Adult income limit: 138% FPL

Ohio Medicaid

Visit the official Ohio Medicaid website

Ohio Medicaid Income Limits

H.R. 1 may affect eligibility thresholds for some adult groups

Ohio Medicaid income limits by coverage group

No asset test for MAGI-based Ohio Medicaid

What counts as income for Ohio Medicaid?

2026 income limits by household size

Ohio vs neighboring states: adult Medicaid income limits

Ohio Medicaid

Related guides

Income Limits

Spend-Down

Eligibility Requirements