New Mexico Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with New Mexico Medicaid
New Mexico is a Medicaid expansion state with some of the highest child and pregnancy income limits in the country
New Mexico Medicaid income limits by household size (2026)
New Mexico Medicaid uses MAGI income rules for expansion adults, children, and pregnant women. No asset test applies to these groups. Non-MAGI rules and an asset test apply only to aged, blind, and disabled individuals in institutional or HCBS waiver care.
| Household size | Adults 19–64 (138% FPL) | Pregnant women (250% FPL) | Children (240% FPL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,884/mo | $3,413/mo | $3,276/mo |
| 2 | $2,533/mo | $4,588/mo | $4,404/mo |
| 3 | $3,181/mo | $5,763/mo | $5,532/mo |
| 4 | $3,830/mo | $6,938/mo | $6,660/mo |
| 5 | $4,478/mo | $8,113/mo | $7,788/mo |
| 6 | $5,127/mo | $9,288/mo | $8,916/mo |
| 7 | $5,775/mo | $10,463/mo | $10,044/mo |
| 8 | $6,424/mo | $11,638/mo | $11,172/mo |
Based on 2026 HHS federal poverty guidelines. Monthly figures are gross income limits, approximate. Source: New Mexico Health Care Authority at hca.nm.gov; verify before applying.
What counts as income under MAGI?
MAGI counts most forms of regular income: wages, self-employment profit, Social Security, rental income, unemployment compensation, and taxable interest. It does not count child support received, SSI payments, workers' compensation, SNAP benefits, or gifts.
New Mexico generally uses household size based on the tax filing unit. Children not on a tax return may be counted separately. Contact HCA at 1-800-283-4465 if your household structure is unusual — blended families, extended family arrangements, and multi-generational households are common in New Mexico and sometimes require case-by-case review.
Income and asset limits for seniors and people with disabilities
Seniors and people with disabilities who do not meet the MAGI expansion rules are evaluated under non-MAGI criteria. New Mexico has a nursing facility income limit tied to the federal SSI standard, plus an asset test.
| Category | Income limit | Asset limit |
|---|---|---|
| SSI recipients | Automatic with SSI (~$967/mo, 2025) | SSI asset test applies |
| Nursing facility / Mi Via waiver | 300% FBR (~$2,901/mo, 2025) | $2,000 individual / $3,000 couple |
| Aged/Blind/Disabled Medicaid (non-SSI) | ~100% FPL (verify with HCA) | $2,000 individual |
| Medicare Savings Programs | 100%–135% FPL depending on program | Higher asset limits — contact HCA |
Sources: New Mexico HCA at hca.nm.gov; Social Security Administration 2025 SSI rates. Asset exclusions include primary home, one vehicle, household goods, and qualified burial accounts.
No asset test for expansion adults, children, or pregnant women in New Mexico
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 New Mexico's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with New Mexico Medicaid directly.