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 Hawaii Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.
Hawaii’s Medicaid program is called MED-QUEST. QUEST stands for Quality care, Universal access, Efficient utilization, Stabilizing costs, and Transforming the way health care is provided to recipients.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Hawaii Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Hawaii 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
Hawaii Medicaid
The Hawaii 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 379,000 people.
This includes 152,000 children as shown by the image below.
In the state of Hawaii, The Department of Human Services/Med-QUEST Division runs the Medicaid Program.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Hawaii?
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.
Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit
The Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Hawaii 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 308 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 308 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 308 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 308 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 191 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 105 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 133% of the FPL
Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Hawaii 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 Hawaii who qualify for Medicaid.
Hawaii 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.
| Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 308% | 308% | 308% | 308% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $14,820 | $45,646 | $45,646 | $45,646 | $45,646 |
| 2 | $20,040 | $61,723 | $61,723 | $61,723 | $61,723 | |
| 3 | $25,260 | $77,801 | $77,801 | $77,801 | $77,801 | |
| 4 | $30,480 | $93,878 | $93,878 | $93,878 | $93,878 | |
| 5 | $35,700 | $109,956 | $109,956 | $109,956 | $109,956 | |
| 6 | $40,920 | $126,034 | $126,034 | $126,034 | $126,034 | |
| 7 | $46,140 | $142,111 | $142,111 | $142,111 | $142,111 | |
| 8 | $51,360 | $158,189 | $158,189 | $158,189 | $158,189 | |
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.
Hawaii has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Hawaii.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Hawaii, see our Hawaii Expansion update below.
Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Hawaii Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 191% | 105% | 100% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $14,820 | $28,306 | $15,561 | $14,820 | $19,711 |
| 2 | $20,040 | $38,276 | $21,042 | $20,040 | $26,653 | |
| 3 | $25,260 | $48,247 | $26,523 | $25,260 | $33,596 | |
| 4 | $30,480 | $58,217 | $32,004 | $30,480 | $40,538 | |
| 5 | $35,700 | $68,187 | $37,485 | $35,700 | $47,481 | |
| 6 | $40,920 | $78,157 | $42,966 | $40,920 | $54,424 | |
| 7 | $46,140 | $88,127 | $48,447 | $46,140 | $61,366 | |
| 8 | $51,360 | $98,098 | $53,928 | $51,360 | $68,309 | |
How to Read the Hawaii 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 191% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $38,276 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Hawaii Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Hawaii.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the My Medical Benefits website, as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at Med-QUEST Office Near You
You can apply in person at a Med-QUEST Division Eligibility Office office near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to a Med-QUEST Division Eligibility Office office near you or submit it in person.
Click here to locate an office.
You can also call 1-877-628-5076 to have an application mailed to you.
Hawaii Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Hawaii Medicaid Agency:
Customer Services Call Center at:
Oahu: 1- (808) 524 – 3370
TTY / TDD: 1- (808) 692 – 7182
Neighbor Islands: 1 (800) 316 – 8005
TTY / TDD: 1 (800) 603 – 1201
Call the Hawaii Medicaid Customer Service number for the following services:
- Change address
- Change in income, assets, and household size
- Check on application status
- Find out your worker name & phone #
- Get health plan contact phone #
- Plan choice & enrollment
- Replace your lost Medicaid ID card
- Report out of state travel
For all other phone numbers for the Hawaii Medicaid Agency, click here.
Hawaii Medicaid Expansion Update
Hawaii’s Medicaid expansion took effect in January 2014.
According to U.S. Census data, only 3.5 percent of Hawaii residents were uninsured as of 2016, down from 6.7 percent in 2013.
Hawaii has a long history of supporting initiatives to make health insurance broadly available to residents.
As of 2015, Hawaii was ranked the healthiest state in the nation according to the Gallup Healthways Physical Wellbeing Index.
Hawaii Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Hawaii Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Hawaii, 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
Idaho Health Plan Coverage Income Limits