Medicaid Office

Washington Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Washington expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Income limits are expressed as percentages of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Dollar amounts below reflect HCA's official Apple Health income and resource standards, effective January 1, 2026.

Washington has some of the highest child income limits in the country

Apple Health for Kids covers children up to 317% of the Federal Poverty Level (Medicaid to 215% FPL, then CHIP to 317% FPL) — roughly $101,900 per year for a family of four. This is substantially higher than the national Medicaid/CHIP norm. Verify current figures at wahealthplanfinder.org or call HCA at 1-855-923-4633.

Apple Health income limits by coverage group (2026)

Adults ages 19–64 (ACA expansion)

Income limit (% FPL)
138% FPL
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
~$21,600/yr (1 person)

Pregnant individuals

Income limit (% FPL)
215% FPL
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
~$33,648/yr (1 person)

Children (Apple Health for Kids)

Income limit (% FPL)
up to 317% FPL
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
~$101,900/yr (family of 4)

Parents and caretaker relatives

Income limit (% FPL)
138% FPL
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
~$21,600/yr (1 person)

SSI recipients

Income limit (% FPL)
SSI limit
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
Automatic eligibility

Long-term care / nursing facility

Income limit (% FPL)
300% FBR
Approx. annual (1 person or family of 4)
~$2,982/mo (2026)

Adult Apple Health income limits by household size (2026)

1 person

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$21,600
Monthly equivalent
$1,800/mo

2 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$29,196
Monthly equivalent
$2,433/mo

3 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$36,780
Monthly equivalent
$3,065/mo

4 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$44,364
Monthly equivalent
$3,697/mo

5 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$51,960
Monthly equivalent
$4,330/mo

6 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$59,544
Monthly equivalent
$4,962/mo

7 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$67,140
Monthly equivalent
$5,595/mo

8 people

Annual limit (138% FPL)
$74,736
Monthly equivalent
$6,228/mo

Each additional person

Annual limit (138% FPL)
add $7,584/yr

No asset test for MAGI-based Apple Health

MAGI-based Apple Health — the category covering most adults, children, and pregnant individuals — has no asset test. A bank account, car, retirement savings, or home equity does not affect eligibility for these programs. Asset tests apply only to long-term care programs administered through ALTSA.

This is a meaningful distinction: Washington is an expansion state with no asset test for its primary adult coverage category. A working adult with savings who loses a job and has income drop below 138% FPL qualifies immediately — assets do not delay eligibility.

Children's income limits: what 317% FPL means in practice

Apple Health for Kids' income limit — 215% FPL for Medicaid, extending to 317% FPL through CHIP — is among the highest of any state and covers many middle-income families who might not expect to qualify. For a family of four, the 317% FPL CHIP ceiling is approximately $101,900 per year (2026 HCA income standards). A family of two earning $65,000 would still likely qualify their children.

Children who qualify through the CHIP income range receive the same Apple Health benefits and use the same managed care plans as children enrolled through standard Medicaid. There is no separate CHIP card or program — all eligible children are enrolled through the same application process.

Medicare Savings Programs (QMB) in Washington

Washington's Apple Health for Kids program reaches unusually high into the income scale, as the callout above shows — and the state runs an equally important, separate set of benefits for Medicare enrollees with limited income: three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) administered by the Health Care Authority (HCA), not by Medicare. Apply through Washington Connection or by calling HCA at 1-855-923-4633.

QMB

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,350

QMB

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$1,824

SLMB

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,616

SLMB

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$2,184

QI

Situation
Individual
Monthly income limit
$1,816

QI

Situation
Married couple
Monthly income limit
$2,455

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), the strongest tier, pays the Part A premium when one is owed, the full $202.90 monthly Part B premium in 2026, and all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Federal law bars providers from billing a QMB enrollee for any of these costs — a rule that applies to every Medicare provider in Washington, whether or not they take Apple Health.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) enrollees only get the Part B premium covered. QI has a capped yearly federal allotment given out first-come, first-served and must be renewed annually, so Washingtonians close to the QI threshold should apply early. QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollees are all automatically enrolled in Extra Help, capping 2026 covered-drug costs at $12.65 per prescription.

Apple Health (Washington Medicaid)

Visit the official Washington Medicaid website

Income Limits in Nearby States

Wyoming Alaska Arizona California Colorado

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