Louisiana Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with Louisiana Medicaid
Louisiana expanded Medicaid in 2016 — adults at or below 138% FPL now qualify for full Healthy Louisiana coverage
Healthy Louisiana income limits by coverage group
Louisiana uses MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) methodology for most eligibility groups. MAGI-based groups have no asset test — savings, vehicles, and home equity are not counted. Non-MAGI groups (seniors, people with disabilities) face both income and asset limits.
| Coverage group | FPL % | Approximate monthly limit (1 person) |
|---|---|---|
| Adults ages 19–64 (ACA expansion) | 138% | ~$1,732/mo |
| Children — LaCHIP | Up to 212% | Varies by age and household size |
| Pregnant women | 214% | 12 months postpartum coverage |
| Seniors age 65+ / Aged, Blind, Disabled | SSI-linked | Asset test applies; income limits vary |
| Nursing facility / HCBS waivers | 300% FBR | ~$2,829/mo individual (2025) |
Source: LDH Bureau of Health Services Financing; 2025 federal poverty level guidelines. Dollar figures are approximate and update annually. Verify current amounts at ldh.la.gov/medicaid or benefitsgateway.org.
No asset test for expansion and MAGI-based coverage
Louisiana's expansion group and all MAGI-based groups have no asset test. This means a single adult earning below 138% FPL who has savings, a car, or a home can still qualify for Healthy Louisiana coverage. The income test is the only financial criterion for these groups.
Seniors and people who are blind or disabled who apply for non-MAGI based Medicaid (SSI-linked coverage) do face asset limits — generally $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. The primary home, one vehicle, and most personal property are excluded from the asset count.
Pregnant women: 214% FPL and 12 months postpartum
Louisiana covers pregnant women at up to 214% FPL. Postpartum coverage extends for 12 months after delivery — a policy Louisiana implemented ahead of the federal mandate that took effect in 2022 under the American Rescue Plan. This means a woman who gives birth remains covered by Healthy Louisiana for one full year after delivery, regardless of her income at that time.
Extended postpartum coverage matters: maternal mortality in Louisiana has historically been among the highest in the country, and loss of coverage in the weeks or months after birth is a documented risk factor. The 12-month postpartum benefit helps address this gap.
What counts as income for MAGI purposes
MAGI includes wages, self-employment income, unemployment compensation, Social Security benefits (for most household members), retirement income, and rental income. It excludes child support received, student financial aid loans, gifts, and certain other types of income. Louisiana uses MAGI to determine eligibility for the expansion group, children, and pregnant women. Your MCO does not recalculate income — LDH and DCFS make the eligibility determination before enrollment.
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 Louisiana's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with Louisiana Medicaid directly.