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 District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Medicaid in DC is also referred to as D.C. HealthCare Alliance.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for District of Columbia Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in the District of Columbia 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
District of Columbia Medicaid
The District of Columbia 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 258,000 people as shown by the image below.
In the District of Columbia, the Medicaid program is managed by the DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF).
Who Can Get Medicaid in the District of Columbia?
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.
District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit
The District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the District of Columbia 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 319 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 319 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 319 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 319 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 319 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 216 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 100% of the FPL
- Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 210% of the FPL
District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia who qualify for Medicaid.
District of Columbia 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.
| District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 319% | 319% | 319% | 319% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $41,087 | $41,087 | $41,087 | $41,087 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $55,570 | $55,570 | $55,570 | $55,570 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $70,052 | $70,052 | $70,052 | $70,052 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $84,535 | $84,535 | $84,535 | $84,535 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $99,018 | $99,018 | $99,018 | $99,018 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $113,500 | $113,500 | $113,500 | $113,500 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $127,983 | $127,983 | $127,983 | $127,983 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $142,465 | $142,465 | $142,465 | $142,465 | |
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.
District of Columbia has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in the District of Columbia.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in the District of Columbia, see our District of Columbia Expansion update below.
District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 319% | 216% | 100% | 210% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $41,087 | $27,821 | $12,880 | $27,048 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $55,570 | $37,627 | $17,420 | $36,582 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $70,052 | $47,434 | $21,960 | $46,116 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $84,535 | $57,240 | $26,500 | $55,650 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $99,018 | $67,046 | $31,040 | $65,184 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $113,500 | $76,853 | $35,580 | $74,718 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $127,983 | $86,659 | $40,120 | $84,252 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $142,465 | $96,466 | $44,660 | $93,786 | |
How to Read the District of Columbia 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 319% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $55,570 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for District of Columbia Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Washington DC.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Washington DC Health Link. – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your DC Health Link Portal Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at DHS Office Near You
You can also apply in person at an Income Maintenance Administration (IMA) Service Center.
To locate a center, click here or call 202-727-5355 for help.
For your convenience, we have also provided the office locations and phone numbers of the IMA Service Centers below.
| Service Center | Address | Phone | Fax |
| Anacostia | 2100 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE | (202) 645-4614 | (202) 727-3527 |
| Congress Heights | 4049 South Capitol Street, SW | (202) 645-4525 | (202) 654-4524 |
| Fort Davis | 3851 Alabama Avenue, SE | (202) 645-4500 | (202) 645-6205 |
| H Street | 645 H Street, NE | (202) 698-4350 | (202) 724-8964 |
| Taylor Street | 1207 Taylor Street, NW | (202) 576-8000 | (202) 576-8740 |
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your IMA office or submit it in person.
District of Columbia Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Washington DC Medicaid Agency:
For Medicaid Applicant & Member Services
By phone: Call the DC Health Link Customer Service at 1-855-532-5465
Apply in person at an Income Maintenance Administration (IMA) Service Center.
Locate a center online or call 202-727-5355 for help.
District of Columbia Medicaid Expansion Update
DC decided early on to participate in Medicaid expansion. Enrollment in DC’s ACA Medicaid expansion began in 2011.
In DC, non-elderly adults without children with income up for 210 percent of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for Medicaid.
Through Medicaid expansion, DC moved about 34,000 people who had been enrolled in DC HealthCare Alliance to the Medicaid program.
DC Healthcare Alliance coverage is still available to people who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, but who have income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level and resources/assets at or below $4,000 for a single person and $6,000 for a family.
For immigrant children under the age of 21, the Immigrant Children’s Program in DC provides coverage for those with income up to 200 percent of the poverty level, regardless of assets.
District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on District of Columbia Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of the District of Columbia, 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
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare Income Limits