Utah Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with Utah Medicaid
Utah Medicaid income limits update annually — verify current thresholds at medicaid.utah.gov
Utah Medicaid income limits by coverage group (2026 approximate)
Utah uses MAGI income rules for expansion Medicaid, children's coverage, and pregnant women. Most MAGI-based groups have no asset test. Seniors and adults applying for long-term care Medicaid use separate non-MAGI rules that include asset tests.
| Coverage group | FPL % | ~Monthly limit (1 person) | ~Annual (family of 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 — Expansion | 138% FPL | ~$1,732/mo | ~$43,896/yr |
| Pregnant women | ~144% FPL | ~$1,807/mo | Verify with DHHS |
| Children (Medicaid + CHIP) | Up to 200% FPL (CHIP extends higher) | Varies by age | ~$62,400/yr at 200% |
| Seniors 65+ and adults with disabilities (LTC) | Non-MAGI rules | Separate rules | Asset test applies |
Source: Utah DHHS Division of Integrated Healthcare, medicaid.utah.gov eligibility pages; 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines. Figures are approximations. Pregnant women's exact income limit in Utah is set in state Medicaid plan; verify at medicaid.utah.gov. Children's CHIP income limit extends above standard Medicaid.
No asset test for expansion Medicaid
Utah expansion Medicaid, children's Medicaid, and the pregnant women's coverage group use MAGI rules with no asset test. A savings account, vehicle, or home equity does not affect eligibility for these groups.
Utah's MAGI income calculation excludes child support received by custodial parents, most irregular one-time income, and income of household members not in the tax filing unit. If you are uncertain whether an income source counts, apply — DHHS makes the determination.
Utah's employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) requirement and income
Utah is distinctive among expansion states in requiring some members to enroll in available employer-sponsored insurance. This requirement is not about income limits — it is about access to employer coverage. If DHHS determines that an employer plan is cost-effective, the expansion member must enroll in that plan and Medicaid acts as secondary coverage, paying the employee premium share.
Utah's Community Engagement Requirement — which would have required some expansion adults to work or participate in approved activities — was withdrawn after CMS determined in August 2021 that work requirements are not consistent with Medicaid's objectives. No community engagement requirement is currently in effect for Utah's standard expansion population, though this may change under H.R. 1 (2025) implementation.
Income and asset rules for seniors and long-term care
Utah Medicaid for seniors and adults with disabilities uses non-MAGI rules. The countable asset limit for a single individual is generally $2,000. For married couples, federal spousal impoverishment protections apply. Contact the Aging and Adult Services division at 1-877-424-4640 or your local Area Agency on Aging for current eligibility thresholds and LTSS program 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 Utah's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with Utah Medicaid directly.