Maine 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 Maine Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Medicaid in Maine is called MaineCare.

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

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

Maine Medicaid

The Maine 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 244,308 people.

This includes 113,000 children as shown by the image below.

In Maine, Medicaid eligibility is determined by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office for Family Independence (OFI).

Who Can Get Medicaid in Maine?

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.

Maine Medicaid Income Limit

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

To qualify, you must meet the Maine 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 191 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 157 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 157 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 208 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 209 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 100 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

Maine Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Maine 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 Maine who qualify for Medicaid.

Maine 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.

Maine has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

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

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

Maine Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Maine 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 209% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is  $36,408 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Maine Medicaid

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

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the My Maine Connection Portal – as shown in the image below.

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

Option 2 – Apply at DHHS Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office near you. Click here to locate a DHHS office.

Option 3 – Download Application

You can download an application, complete it, and submit it in-person to your county DHHS office or mail it to:

Office for Family Independence
114 Corn Shop Lane
Farmington, ME 04938

Additionally, you can email an application to Farmington.DHHS@Maine.gov.

Maine Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Maine Medicaid Agency:

To see if you are eligible for Medicaid in Maine, to apply, or to report changes, call 1-855-797-4357. TTY users dial 711.

MaineCare Member Services
For questions about covered services or to select a Primary Care Provider (PCP) call 1-800-977-6740. TTY users dial 711. You can also email.

Pharmacy Help Desk
For prescription drug benefits, medication prior authorizations, and Medicare Part D questions, call 1-866-796-2463. TTY users dial 711.

Maine Medicaid Expansion Update

Maine voters approved the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative in the 2017 election, but then Gov. Paul LePage blocked expansion throughout 2018.

Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, took office on January 2, 2019, signed an executive order to expand Medicaid on her first day in office, and more than 57,000 people were enrolled by July 2020.

For people who had already applied, coverage was retroactive as far back as July 2018 – when the Medicaid expansion would have taken effect if former LePage hadn’t blocked it.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved an 1115 waiver that called for work requirements, premiums, and asset testing as of July 2019.

However, Governor Mills withdrew the waiver after she took office.

Maine Medicaid Income Limits Summary

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

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Maine, 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
Maryland Medicaid and MCHP Income Limits