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 Georgia Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Georgia Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Georgia 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
Georgia Medicaid
The Georgia 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 2 million people.
This includes 1.4 million children as shown by the image below.
The Georgia Medicaid program is managed by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH).
Who Can Get Medicaid in Georgia?
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.
Georgia Medicaid Income Limit
The Georgia Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Georgia 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 205 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 149 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 133 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 247 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 220 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 32 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
Georgia Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Georgia 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 Georgia who qualify for Medicaid.
Georgia 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.
| Georgia Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 205% | 149% | 133% | 247% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $26,404 | $19,191 | $17,130 | $31,814 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $35,711 | $25,956 | $23,169 | $43,027 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $45,018 | $32,720 | $29,207 | $54,241 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $54,325 | $39,485 | $35,245 | $65,455 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $63,632 | $46,250 | $41,283 | $76,669 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $72,939 | $53,014 | $47,321 | $87,883 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $82,246 | $59,779 | $53,360 | $99,096 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $91,553 | $66,543 | $59,398 | $110,310 | |
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.
Georgia is partially going to expand Medicaid to include adults without dependents, beginning July 2021.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Georgia, see our Georgia Medicaid Expansion update below.
Georgia Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Georgia Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 220% | 32% | 74% | NO | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $28,336 | $4,122 | $9,531 | N/A |
| 2 | $17,420 | $38,324 | $5,574 | $12,891 | N/A | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $48,312 | $7,027 | $16,250 | N/A | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $58,300 | $8,480 | $19,610 | N/A | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $68,288 | $9,933 | $22,970 | N/A | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $78,276 | $11,386 | $26,329 | N/A | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $88,264 | $12,838 | $29,689 | N/A | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $98,252 | $14,291 | $33,048 | N/A | |
How to Read the Georgia 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.
How to Apply for Georgia Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Georgia.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Georgia Gateway account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can log in or create your Gateway Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at DFCS Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office near you. Click here to locate a DFCS office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it and mail it to your county DFCS office or submit it in person.
Additionally, you can request an application by calling 877-423-4746.
Georgia Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact Georgia Medicaid.
| Peachcare for Kids | 877-427-3224 |
| Georgia Medicaid Eligibility | 404-651-9982 |
| Georgia Medicaid Member Services | 866-211-0950 |
| Georgia Medicaid Provider Services | 800-766-4456 |
| Georgia Medicaid Customer Service/Claims Resolution | 404-657-5468 |
| Medical Policy | 404-651-9606 |
| Hospital Services | 404-651-9606 |
| Long-Term Care | 404-232-1411 |
Georgia Medicaid Expansion Update
Georgia will partially expand Medicaid as of July 2021.
However, it will come with a work requirement and without the ACA’s enhanced federal funding that would go along with full expansion.
In November 2019, the state unveiled an 1115 waiver proposal that calls for partial Medicaid expansion, effective in July 2021.
The partial expansion would cover adults age 19-64 with income up to 100 percent of the poverty level, as long as they work at least 80 hours per month.
The work requirement can also be fulfilled via various other “community engagement” activities, including job training, higher education, or community service.
However, there are time limits on vocational training and job readiness programs.
As of May 2020, 23 percent of people in Georgia did not have health insurance coverage.
Georgia Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Georgia Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Georgia, 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
Hawaii Med-QUEST Income Limits