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 Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Massachusetts Medicaid is also called MassHealth.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Massachusetts Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts Medicaid
The Massachusetts 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 1.6 million people.
This includes 697,000 children as shown by the image below.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Massachusetts?
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.
Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit
The Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Massachusetts 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 200 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 150 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 150 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 300 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 200 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 133 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
Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts who qualify for Medicaid.
Massachusetts 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.
| Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 200% | 150% | 150% | 300% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $25,760 | $19,320 | $19,320 | $38,640 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $34,840 | $26,130 | $26,130 | $52,260 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $43,920 | $32,940 | $32,940 | $65,880 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $53,000 | $39,750 | $39,750 | $79,500 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $62,080 | $46,560 | $46,560 | $93,120 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $71,160 | $53,370 | $53,370 | $106,740 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $80,240 | $60,180 | $60,180 | $120,360 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $89,320 | $66,990 | $66,990 | $133,980 | |
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.
Massachusetts has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Massachusetts.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Massachusetts, see our Massachusetts Expansion update below.
Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 200% | 133% | 100% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $25,760 | $17,130 | $12,880 | $17,130 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $34,840 | $23,169 | $17,420 | $23,169 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $43,920 | $29,207 | $21,960 | $29,207 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $53,000 | $35,245 | $26,500 | $35,245 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $62,080 | $41,283 | $31,040 | $41,283 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $71,160 | $47,321 | $35,580 | $47,321 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $80,240 | $53,360 | $40,120 | $53,360 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $89,320 | $59,398 | $44,660 | $59,398 | |
How to Read the Massachusetts 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 200% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $34,840 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Massachusetts Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Massachusetts.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Massachusetts Health Connector Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Massachusetts Health Connector Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at MassHealth Enrollment Center Near You
You can apply in person at the MassHealth Enrollment Center near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to:
Mail your filled-out, signed application to:
Health Insurance Processing Center
PO Box 4405
Taunton, MA 02780.
Additionally, you can fax your filled-out, signed application to (857) 323-8300.
Massachusetts Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Massachusetts Medicaid Agency:
MassHealth Customer Service Center (800) 841-2900.
Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m.
TTY (800) 497-4648 – For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled.
Massachusetts Medicaid Expansion Update
The state of Massachusetts accepted federal funding for Medicaid expansion in 2013.
Since then, the state has seen a 24% reduction in the uninsured population from 2013 to 2017.
Massachusetts Medicaid, which is called MassHealth, has high-income limits relative to many other states.
The state has seen an increase of over 302, 000 additional people who are now covered by Medicaid/CHIP from 2013 to 2018.
Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Massachusetts Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Massachusetts, 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
Michigan Medical Assistance Income Charts