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 Kansas Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Medicaid in Kansas is also referred to as KanCare.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Kansas Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Kansas 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
Kansas Medicaid
The Kansas 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 425, 646 people.
This includes 292,000 children as shown by the image below.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) administer the Kansas Medicaid program within the State of Kansas.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Kansas?
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.
Kansas Medicaid Income Limit
The Kansas Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Kansas 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 166 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 227 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 166 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 33 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 80% of the FPL
Kansas Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Kansas 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 Kansas who qualify for Medicaid.
Kansas 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.
| Kansas Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 166% | 149% | 133% | 227% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $21,381 | $19,191 | $17,130 | $29,238 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $28,917 | $25,956 | $23,169 | $39,543 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $36,454 | $32,720 | $29,207 | $49,849 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $43,990 | $39,485 | $35,245 | $60,155 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $51,526 | $46,250 | $41,283 | $70,461 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $59,063 | $53,014 | $47,321 | $80,767 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $66,599 | $59,779 | $53,360 | $91,072 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $74,136 | $66,543 | $59,398 | $101,378 | |
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.
Kansas has not expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents do not qualify for Medicaid in Kansas.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Kansas, see our Alabama Medicaid Expansion update below.
Kansas Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Kansas Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 166% | 33% | 80% | NO | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $21,381 | $4,250 | $10,304 | N/A |
| 2 | $17,420 | $28,917 | $5,749 | $13,936 | N/A | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $36,454 | $7,247 | $17,568 | N/A | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $43,990 | $8,745 | $21,200 | N/A | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $51,526 | $10,243 | $24,832 | N/A | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $59,063 | $11,741 | $28,464 | N/A | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $66,599 | $13,240 | $32,096 | N/A | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $74,136 | $14,738 | $35,728 | N/A | |
How to Read the Kansas 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 166% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $28,917 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Kansas Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Kansas.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Medical Self-Service Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Self-Service Portal Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply by Phone
You can call 1-800-792-4884 for help determining which application to use or to have an application mailed to you.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county DCF office or submit it in person.
Additionally, if you need help with the application process, contact DCF toll-free at 1-888-369-4777.
Kansas Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Kansas Medicaid Agency:
You can call the KanCare Clearinghouse at 1-800-792-4884.
Monday – Friday between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM.
Kansas Medicaid Expansion Update
Kansas is among the minority of states where Medicaid has not yet been expanded.
A bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill failed in the 2020 legislative session in Kansas.
Additionally, a Medicaid expansion bill passed in the Kansas House in 2019 died in the Senate.
Furthermore, lawmakers passed a Medicaid expansion bill in 2017, but Governor Brownback vetoed it.
KanCare 2.0 waiver extension initially called for a work requirement (without Medicaid expansion) and a 36-month cap on Medicaid eligibility.
However, the Center for Medicaid denied the 36-month cap, and Kansas asked CMS to postpone consideration of the work requirement.
Kansas Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Kansas Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Kansas, 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