The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Alabama Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Alabama Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Alabama and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
Alabama Medicaid
The Alabama Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1 million people.
This includes 393,954 children as shown by the image below.
Medicaid services in Alabama are administered by the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Alabama?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
Alabama Medicaid Income Limit
The Alabama Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Alabama Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 141 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 141 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 141 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 312 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 312 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 141 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 13% of the FPL
Alabama Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Alabama Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Alabama who qualify for Medicaid.
Alabama Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| Alabama Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 141% | 141% | 141% | 312% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $18,161 | $18,161 | $18,161 | $40,186 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $24,562 | $24,562 | $24,562 | $54,350 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $30,964 | $30,964 | $30,964 | $68,515 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $37,365 | $37,365 | $37,365 | $82,680 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $43,766 | $43,766 | $43,766 | $96,845 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $50,168 | $50,168 | $50,168 | $111,010 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $56,569 | $56,569 | $56,569 | $125,174 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $62,971 | $62,971 | $62,971 | $139,339 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
Alabama has not expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents do not qualify for Medicaid in Alabama.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Alabama, see our Alabama Medicaid Expansion update below.
Alabama Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Alabama Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 141% | 13% | 74% | NO | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $18,161 | $1,674 | $9,531 | N/A |
| 2 | $17,420 | $24,562 | $2,265 | $12,891 | N/A | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $30,964 | $2,855 | $16,250 | N/A | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $37,365 | $3,445 | $19,610 | N/A | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $43,766 | $4,035 | $22,970 | N/A | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $50,168 | $4,625 | $26,329 | N/A | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $56,569 | $5,216 | $29,689 | N/A | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $62,971 | $5,806 | $33,048 | N/A | |
How to Read the Alabama Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 141% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $24,562 as shown in the chart above.
Alabama Medicaid Expansion Update
Alabama is one of 12 states that, as of April 2021, has not expanded Medicaid eligibility as allowed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
This means that adults without dependents who have low income cannot qualify for Medicaid, like residents in the 38 states that have expanded Medicaid.
The state has declined Medicaid expansion even though the federal government will pay 90 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion, with the state paying only 10 percent.
It is estimated that between 235,000 to 324,000 people in Alabama would gain access to Medicaid if the state were to accept federal funding to expand the program.
Furthermore, a 2020 analysis by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation determined that Alabama would see the largest decrease in its uninsured rate by expanding Medicaid.
That is because the uninsured rate in Alabama would drop by an estimated 43 percent if the state were to expand Medicaid.
How to Apply for Alabama Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Alabama.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the AlabamaCares account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can log in or create your AlabamaCares Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at Medicaid Agency Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Alabama Medicaid Office Locations near you. Click here to locate a Medicaid Office.
Option 3 – Download Alabama Medicaid Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county Medicaid office or submit it in person.
Call your county Medicaid office if one of these methods will not work for you. Click here to locate an Alabama Medicaid Agency office.
Alabama Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Alabama Medicaid Agency:
For General Questions About Medicaid, call Medicaid’s main switchboard at (334) 242-5000 for assistance.
People who are deaf may call for assistance at TTY (800) 253-0799.
For all other phone numbers for the Alabama Medicaid Agency, click here.
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Alabama Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Alabama, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid