Montana 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 Montana Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.

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

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

Montana Medicaid

The Montana 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 269,746 people.

This includes 120,000 children as shown by the image below.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) administers healthcare services in Montana, including Montana’s Medicaid Program.

Who Can Get Medicaid in Montana?

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.

Montana Medicaid Income Limit

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

To qualify, you must meet the Montana 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 147 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 141 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 133 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 200 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 156 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 106 percent of FPL
• Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 88% of the FPL
• Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL

Montana Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Montana 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 Montana who qualify for Medicaid.

Montana 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.

Montana has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

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

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

Montana Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Montana 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  157% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is  $27,349 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Montana Medicaid

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

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the ePass Montana Portal – as shown in the image below.

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

Option 2 – Apply at a Offices of Public Assistance Near You

Find in-person help by visiting covermt.org or your local DPHHS Office of Public Assistance. To locate an Office of Public Assistance near you, click here.

Option 3 – Download Application

Call DPHHS at 1-888-706-1535 to have an application mailed to you. Complete it and mail it to your county DPHHS office or submit it in person.

To locate a DPHHS Office of Public Assistance near you, click here.

Montana Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Montana Medicaid Agency:

Public Assistance Help Line
Eligibility and reporting changes to your case
1-888-706-1535

Medicaid/HMK Plus, Member Help Line
Medical Benefits, copayments, and Passport to Health questions
1-800-362-8312

Nurse First Advice Line
Talk to a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
1-800-330-7847

Medicaid Transportation Services
Contact the Medicaid Transportation Center
1-800-292-7114

Montana Medicaid Expansion Update

Medicaid expansion took effect in Montana in 2016, and 96,000 people were enrolled by early 2019.

In addition, Montana has enacted legislation to extend Medicaid expansion through June 2025, but with a work requirement.

The work requirement proposed was submitted to CMS in August 2019, and Montana officials had planned for it to take effect in January 2020.

However, the state says it could be delayed by up to a year.

Furthermore, Medicaid expansion extension funding (without a work requirement) was on the 2018 ballot but voters rejected it.

Montana Medicaid Income Limits Summary

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

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Montana, 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
Nebraska Medicaid CHIP Income Limits