Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits – 2021

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 Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Medicaid in Kentucky is also called KyHealth Choices.

Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Kentucky Medicaid or not.

However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Kentucky 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

Kentucky Medicaid

The Kentucky 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 1.5 million people.

This includes 598,000 children as shown by the image below.

In Kentucky, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) is the agency that administers the state’s Medicaid program.

Who Can Get Medicaid in Kentucky?

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.

Kentucky Medicaid Income Limit

The Kentucky Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.

To qualify, you must meet the Kentucky Medicaid Income limits listed below.

Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.

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 195 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 159 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 159 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 213 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 195 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 22 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

Kentucky Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Kentucky 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 Kentucky who qualify for Medicaid.

Kentucky 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.

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.

Kentucky has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Kentucky.

For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Kentucky, see our Kentucky Expansion update below.

Kentucky Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Kentucky 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 195% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is  $33,969 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Kentucky Medicaid

There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Kentucky.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the kynect Website – as shown in the image below.

If you have an account, you can log in or create your kynect Website Account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at DCBS Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office near you. Click here to locate a DCBS office.

You can also apply for Medicaid only by calling the Kentucky Healthcare Customer Service line toll-free at (855) 459-6328.

Option 3 – Download Kentucky Food Stamps Application

You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county DCBS office or submit it in person.

Kentucky Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Kentucky Medicaid Agency:

Locate or call your local office – Department for Community Based Services – (855) 306-8959
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Ombudsman – (877) 807-4027

KY Relay – 711

KCHIP – (877) 524-4718/(877) 807-4719 (TDD/TTY)

Medicaid Member Services – (800) 635-2570

Kentucky Medicaid Expansion Update

Kentucky has been one of the most successful states in reducing its uninsured rate through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Medicaid expansion in Kentucky was effective as of Jan. 1, 2014.

Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirement was initially slated to take effect in July 2018.

However, Gov. Andy Beshear rescinded Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirement.

Data collected by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services shows that the new Medicaid beneficiaries are taking advantage of preventive screenings, with the following increases from 2013 to 2014:

• 30 percent increase in breast cancer screenings
• 3 percent increase in cervical cancer screenings
• 16 percent increase in colorectal cancer screening
• 37 percent increase in adult dental visits

According to the Center for Medicaid, as of July 2019, 450,700 Kentucky residents gained eligibility and gained health insurance coverage under the ACA’s Medicaid expansion.

Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Kentucky Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Kentucky, 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
Louisiana LaCHIP Income Limit Chart