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 Alaska Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. The Medicaid program in Alaska is also known as DenaliCare.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Alaska Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Alaska 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
Alaska Medicaid
The Alaska 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 about 237,622 million people.
This includes 99,352 children as shown by the image below.
In Alaska, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Assistance determines eligibility for Medicaid.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Alaska?
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.
Alaska Medicaid Income Limit
The Alaska Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Alaska 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 203 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 203 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 203 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 203 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 200 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 135 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
- Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL
Alaska Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Alaska 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 Alaska who qualify for Medicaid.
Alaska 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.
| Alaska Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 203% | 203% | 203% | 203% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $16,090 | $32,663 | $32,663 | $32,663 | $32,663 |
| 2 | $21,770 | $44,193 | $44,193 | $44,193 | $44,193 | |
| 3 | $27,450 | $55,724 | $55,724 | $55,724 | $55,724 | |
| 4 | $33,130 | $67,254 | $67,254 | $67,254 | $67,254 | |
| 5 | $38,810 | $78,784 | $78,784 | $78,784 | $78,784 | |
| 6 | $44,490 | $90,315 | $90,315 | $90,315 | $90,315 | |
| 7 | $50,170 | $101,845 | $101,845 | $101,845 | $101,845 | |
| 8 | $55,850 | $113,376 | $113,376 | $113,376 | $113,376 | |
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.
Alaska has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents are eligible for Medicaid in Alaska.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion and timeline in Alaska, see our Alaska Medicaid Expansion update below.
Alaska Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Alaska Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 200% | 135% | 74% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $16,090 | $32,180 | $21,722 | $11,907 | $21,400 |
| 2 | $21,770 | $43,540 | $29,390 | $16,110 | $28,954 | |
| 3 | $27,450 | $54,900 | $37,058 | $20,313 | $36,509 | |
| 4 | $33,130 | $66,260 | $44,726 | $24,516 | $44,063 | |
| 5 | $38,810 | $77,620 | $52,394 | $28,719 | $51,617 | |
| 6 | $44,490 | $88,980 | $60,062 | $32,923 | $59,172 | |
| 7 | $50,170 | $100,340 | $67,730 | $37,126 | $66,726 | |
| 8 | $55,850 | $111,700 | $75,398 | $41,329 | $74,281 | |
How to Read the Alaska 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 200% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $43,540 as shown in the chart above.
Alaska Medicaid Expansion Update
Alabama is one of 38 states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility as allowed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
As a result, adults without dependents in the state who meet the eligibility criteria could apply for Medicaid. Here’s a summary:
- Medicaid expansion in Alaska took effect in September 2015
- More than 60,000 people were covered under Alaska’s Medicaid expansion as of August 2020, including those who lost jobs and income amid COVID-19 pandemic
- The Alaska Medicaid Expansion happened after Governor Bill Walker was elected and made it a priority
- The State’s GOP lawmakers sued unsuccessfully to block expansion
How to Apply for Alaska Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Alaska.
Option 1 – Apply online
To apply for Alaska Medicaid online, visit My.Alaska.gov and Click on ARIES Self-Service Portal under Services for Individuals.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your new account (as shown in the image below). Click here to be taken to the website.
The short video below, from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, will walk you through the Medicaid Electronic Application process.
We highly encourage you to watch it.
Option 2 – Apply at DPA Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office near you. Click here to locate a DPA office.
Option 3 – Download Alaska Medicaid Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county DPA office or submit it in person.
Alaska Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Alabama Medicaid Agency:
For General Questions About Medicaid, call (907) 465-3347.
For Questions about Medicaid Eligibility or Claims? In Anchorage, call (907) 644-6800 or call the Toll-Free number at 1-800-770-5650.
For all other phone numbers for the Alaska DPA, click here.
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Alaska Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Alaska, 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
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply