Alaska Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with Alaska Medicaid
Alaska uses higher Federal Poverty Level figures — verify current dollar thresholds with DPA
Alaska Medicaid income limits by coverage group
Alaska's eligibility structure reflects both ACA expansion and the state's unique cost-of-living adjusted FPL. The FPL percentage thresholds are the same as in expansion states nationally — the dollar amounts are higher because Alaska FPL is higher.
| Coverage group | FPL threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adults ages 19–64 (Medicaid Expansion) | 138% Alaska FPL | Effective September 1, 2015 |
| Children (Medicaid and Denali KidCare) | Up to 175% Alaska FPL | Per DPA Medicaid Standards |
| Pregnant women | Up to 175% Alaska FPL | Includes Denali KidCare for pregnant women |
| Former foster care youth | Up to age 25, income-based | MAGI rules apply |
| Aged, blind, or disabled | Non-MAGI rules apply | Separate asset and income limits |
Source: Alaska DPA Medicaid page and Alaska Medicaid Income and Eligibility Standards document (dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us/POLICY/PDF/Medicaid-Standards.pdf). Dollar amounts are updated annually by HHS. Contact DPA at 800-478-7778 for exact current figures for your household size.
The Alaska FPL difference — why it matters
HHS recognizes that the cost of living in Alaska is substantially higher than the national average, particularly in rural and remote areas where food, fuel, and services cost far more than in the lower 48 states. Congress established separate Alaska (and Hawaii) FPL schedules decades ago. For 2026, the Alaska single-person FPL is approximately 25% higher than the 48-state FPL.
In practical terms, a single adult in Alaska qualifies for Medicaid Expansion at a higher monthly income than a single adult in, say, Wyoming or Idaho. The percentage is the same (138% FPL); the Alaska dollar amount is higher. This is not a policy choice Alaska made — it reflects the federal FPL structure applied to Alaska's recognized cost environment.
No asset test for MAGI-based Alaska Medicaid
MAGI Medicaid — covering expansion adults, parents and caregivers, children, pregnant women, and former foster care youth — does not use an asset test. Savings, vehicles, and property are not evaluated. Non-MAGI coverage (aged, blind, disabled) does apply asset limits and income rules specific to that group. Contact DPA at 800-478-7778 for non-MAGI eligibility details.
How Medicaid income limits work
Medicaid eligibility is tied to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a measure the Department of Health and Human Services updates each January. States set their income limits as a percentage of FPL — so when FPL increases, the dollar thresholds for Medicaid also shift.
The Affordable Care Act established a standard income methodology called Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for most Medicaid applicants. Under MAGI, the agency counts wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security benefits, and most other taxable income. Assets — a savings account, vehicle, home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That changed with the ACA and applies in all states.
States that expanded Medicaid under the ACA cover most adults at or below 138% FPL. In non-expansion states, income limits for adults without dependent children are far lower — sometimes as low as a few hundred dollars per month — or eligibility for that category simply doesn't exist.
These are federal guidelines — state limits may differ
What counts as income under MAGI
MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is the income standard for most Medicaid applicants — children, adults under 65, pregnant women, and parents. It includes wages, salary, tips, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, Social Security retirement and disability benefits (SSDI), and most other taxable income.
It does not count child support received, gifts, loans, inheritances that are not generating income, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. One key MAGI rule: the ACA added a 5% FPL income disregard for most adults, which effectively raises the usable threshold by that amount. So a state with a 133% FPL limit effectively covers adults to about 138% FPL after the disregard.
Assets — a bank account, car, or home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That's a major difference from old-law Medicaid, where asset tests were common. If you previously didn't qualify because of assets, your eligibility may have changed after the ACA.
Asset limits and long-term care Medicaid
MAGI-based programs have no asset test. But Medicaid programs that cover long-term care — nursing home care, home and community-based services for seniors — use the old income and asset methodology, which does include asset limits.
Asset limits for long-term care Medicaid vary by state and are updated periodically. Generally, countable assets above the limit must be spent down before an applicant qualifies. Exempt assets — the primary home (in most circumstances), one vehicle, and certain personal property — are not counted.
Specific asset limits for Alaska's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with Alaska Medicaid directly.