Kansas Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with KanCare (Kansas Medicaid)
Kansas has not expanded Medicaid — adults without children or a qualifying disability generally don't qualify
KanCare income limits for children and pregnant women
Children and pregnant women in Kansas are covered under MAGI-based rules with no asset test. Kansas also offers HealthWave, its CHIP program, which extends coverage to children up to 238% FPL whose income is too high for Medicaid but who lack access to affordable private insurance.
| Household size | Children Medicaid (~100% FPL) | Pregnant women (166% FPL) | HealthWave CHIP (238% FPL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$1,365/mo | ~$2,266/mo | ~$3,249/mo |
| 2 | ~$1,835/mo | ~$3,046/mo | ~$4,367/mo |
| 3 | ~$2,305/mo | ~$3,826/mo | ~$5,486/mo |
| 4 | ~$2,775/mo | ~$4,606/mo | ~$6,604/mo |
| 5 | ~$3,245/mo | ~$5,387/mo | ~$7,722/mo |
| 6 | ~$3,715/mo | ~$6,167/mo | ~$8,841/mo |
Approximate limits based on 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Children's Medicaid percentage is approximate; HealthWave CHIP is 238% FPL per KDHE. Verify at kancare.ks.gov or call 1-800-792-4884. Tilde (~) denotes approximate figures.
Income limits for parents and caretaker relatives
Kansas covers parents or caretaker relatives of dependent children, but the income limit is very restrictive. Kansas uses a non-MAGI methodology for this group, resulting in income limits set well below the poverty line. A parent working full time at or near minimum wage will typically exceed these limits.
| Household size | Monthly income limit (approx. 38% FPL) | % of federal poverty level |
|---|---|---|
| 3 (parent + 2 children) | ~$876/mo | ~38% FPL |
| 4 (parent + 3 children) | ~$1,055/mo | ~38% FPL |
| 5 (parent + 4 children) | ~$1,233/mo | ~38% FPL |
Parent limit is approximately 38% of the federal poverty level per KDHE KanCare eligibility documentation. Verify exact limits at kancare.ks.gov — non-MAGI limits may be stated differently than simple FPL percentages.
Income and asset limits for aged, blind, and disabled
| Category | Income limit | Asset limit |
|---|---|---|
| SSI recipients | Automatic with SSI (~$967/mo, 2025) | SSI asset rules apply |
| Nursing facility / HCBS waiver | 300% SSI (~$2,901/mo, 2025) | $2,000 individual |
| MediKan (SSDI applicants, state-funded) | Poverty-related; varies | Verify with DCF |
| Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) | Varies — 100% to 135% FPL | Higher asset limits apply |
MediKan is a state-funded program unique to Kansas. It provides a temporary bridge for individuals waiting for a disability determination from SSA — particularly those who have applied for SSI or SSDI but not yet received a decision. Per KDHE, MediKan covers up to 9 months while the SSA decision is pending. This is nationally uncommon.
Sources: KDHE KanCare eligibility documentation (kancare.ks.gov); Social Security Administration SSI rates 2025; KDHE MediKan fact sheet. Standard asset exclusions apply: primary home, one vehicle, household goods, prepaid burial up to set limit.
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 Kansas's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with KanCare (Kansas Medicaid) directly.