Illinois Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Chart for Singles, Married Couples & Families

Written & Reviewed by Akash Biswas, MSW | Former Medicaid Caseworker Trainer | Verified against official Medicaid.gov and Illinois HFS guidelines | Last Updated: March 2026

In 2026, a single adult in Illinois can earn up to $1,835 per month ($22,022 per year) and still qualify for Medicaid.

A married couple (household of 2) can earn up to $2,489 per month. A family of four can earn up to $44,367 per year.

These limits come from the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines released January 15, 2026. Illinois uses a percentage of FPL to set each program’s income cutoff.

Need a quick answer? Use our free Medicaid Calculator to check if you qualify in 60 seconds.

How Illinois Medicaid Eligibility Works

Illinois runs Medicaid through two agencies:

• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) manages the medical programs.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) processes applications and checks eligibility.

Your eligibility depends on your age, household size, income, and sometimes assets.

Illinois uses two methods to count income:

1. MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) — for most people under 65
2. Non-MAGI — for seniors (65+), blind, and disabled individuals

What Is MAGI?

MAGI is a way to count your income for Medicaid. It includes:

• Wages and salaries
• Self-employment income
• Unemployment benefits
• Taxable Social Security
• Alimony (for divorces before 2019)

MAGI does not count:

• Child support received
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• Workers’ compensation
• Non-taxable Social Security
• Veterans’ benefits (in most cases)

Important: Illinois applies a 5% FPL income disregard on top of the base limit. This means you can earn slightly more than 133% FPL and still qualify. The effective limit is 138% FPL.

Source: Illinois DHS WAG 25-03-02 and HHS.gov 2026 Poverty Guidelines

Adults Ages 19–64 (ACA Adult Medicaid)

This is the most common Medicaid program in Illinois. It covers working-age adults with low income. Illinois expanded Medicaid in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. You do not need children to qualify.

Income limit: 138% of the Federal Poverty Level

Add $654/month for each person beyond 8.

Key facts about this program:

• No asset test. Your savings, home, and car don’t matter.
• No dependent children needed. Single adults qualify.
• Covers over 688,000 Illinois adults as of 2025.
• Includes doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, dental, and vision.

If your income is above these limits, you may qualify for subsidized Marketplace insurance at healthcare.gov.

Check now: Use our free Medicaid Calculator to see if you qualify.

Source: Illinois HFS Medical Programs and 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines

Illinois Medicaid Income Limits for Married Couples 2026

If you’re married, your income limit depends on two things:

1. Which Medicaid program you’re applying for
2. Whether one or both spouses are applying

Here’s a full breakdown.

ACA Adult Medicaid for Married Couples (Ages 19–64)

For married couples under 65, your household size is at least 2. Your combined income must fall below the limit for a household of 2.

• No asset test. Your home, cars, and savings don’t count.
• Both spouses’ income is combined.
• Based on 138% of FPL.

AABD Medicaid for Married Couples (Age 65+ or Disabled)

If you or your spouse is 65 or older, blind, or disabled, different rules apply. This is called AABD (Aged, Blind, and Disabled) Medicaid.

Effective April 2026 – March 2027. Based on 100% FPL. Source: Illinois DHS WAG 25-03-02

How income is counted for married couples in AABD:

• If both spouses apply, their income is combined. The limit is $1,803/month.
• If only one spouse applies for Nursing Home Medicaid or a Medicaid Waiver, only the applicant’s income counts. The other spouse’s income is not counted.
• If only one spouse applies for regular AABD Medicaid, both spouses’ incomes are combined.

This is a key difference. Many couples don’t realize that for long-term care, only the applying spouse’s income matters.

Nursing Home Medicaid for Married Couples

The non-applicant spouse gets to keep assets through the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). More on this in the spousal protections section below.

Source: MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org – Illinois and IL Aging Medicaid Standards PDF

Income Limits for a Household of 2

Many people search for the exact limit for a 2-person household. Here it is for every program:

For ACA Adult Medicaid: A household of 2 can earn up to $2,489 per month or $29,862 per year.

For AABD Medicaid: A married couple where both apply can earn up to $1,803 per month combined.

No matter which program you apply for, Illinois checks your eligibility for every program you may qualify for — not just the one you choose. So always apply.

Not sure? Try our free calculator — it checks all programs for you.

Single Adult Income Limits 2026

If you’re a single adult (ages 19–64) with no dependents, here’s your limit:

For ACA Adult Medicaid, there is no asset test. Your bank account, home, and car don’t affect eligibility. You only need to meet the income limit and be an Illinois resident.

For AABD Medicaid, there is an asset limit of $17,500. Your primary home and one vehicle are exempt.

Children Under 19 (All Kids Program)

Illinois has one of the best children’s health programs in the country. It’s called All Kids. Even middle-income families often qualify.

All Kids Income Limits 2026

All Kids Assist Income Limits by Family Size

Based on 318% FPL. Source: Illinois HFS All Kids Program

What All Kids covers:

• Doctor visits and hospital care
• Dental cleanings and fillings
• Vision exams and glasses
• Mental health services
• Prescriptions

Good to know:

• No asset test for children.
• Unborn babies count toward your household size.
• American Indian and Alaska Native children pay nothing at any income level.
• Coverage continues even if a parent doesn’t qualify.

Pregnant Women (Moms & Babies Program)

Pregnant women get the most generous income limits in Illinois. The state covers you at 213% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Moms & Babies Income Limits 2026

Your unborn baby counts as a household member. So if you’re pregnant and single, your household size is 2.

What makes this program special:

• Presumptive eligibility — You can get instant, temporary coverage while your full application processes. Ask at any hospital or clinic.
• No premiums or copays. Everything is free.
• Baby is automatically covered for the first year after birth.
• 12 months postpartum coverage. Illinois extended this from 60 days. You stay covered for a full year after delivery.
• No asset test.

Source: Illinois HFS Moms & Babies

Parents and Caretaker Relatives

If you have a child under 19 living with you, you may qualify as a parent or caretaker relative.

The income limits are the same as ACA Adult Medicaid: 138% FPL.

Requirements:

• You must have a dependent child under 19 in your home.
• You can be a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other caretaker.
• No asset test.

Seniors and People with Disabilities (AABD)

AABD stands for Aged, Blind, and Disabled. This program has stricter rules than ACA Adult Medicaid. It uses non-MAGI income counting.

AABD Income Limits 2026

Effective April 2026 – March 2027. Based on 100% FPL.

Note: Illinois also applies a $25 income disregard on top of these limits. So the effective limits are slightly higher.

Who Qualifies for AABD?

• Adults age 65 or older
• People who are legally blind
• People with disabilities (as defined by Social Security standards)
• People receiving SSI automatically qualify

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)

If you’re on Medicare, Illinois also offers help paying your Medicare costs. These have different income limits:

Source: IL Aging Medicaid Income Standards 2026

If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI-1, Illinois pays some or all of your Medicare costs. This saves you hundreds of dollars per month.

2026 Asset Limits: What Counts and What Doesn’t

ACA Adult Medicaid, children’s programs, and pregnant women have NO asset test. Your savings, home, and car don’t matter. Only your income counts.

AABD Medicaid (seniors, blind, disabled) DOES have an asset test.

AABD Asset Limits 2026

Illinois raised this limit from $2,000 to $17,500 — a major increase that helps thousands more people qualify.

What Counts as an Asset?

These are countable assets:

• Cash and checking/savings accounts
• Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
• Certificates of deposit (CDs)
• IRAs and retirement accounts (Note: Illinois counts IRAs, unlike some states)
• Cryptocurrency
• Real estate you don’t live in
• Additional vehicles beyond your first one

What Does NOT Count?

These assets are exempt (they don’t count against the limit):

• Your primary home (equity up to $752,000)
• One vehicle (any value)
• Personal belongings and household items
• Irrevocable prepaid funeral/burial contracts (up to $8,434; no limit if funded by life insurance)
• Life insurance with face value under $1,500
• Burial plot and related items

The 60-Month Look-Back Period

If you’re applying for Nursing Home Medicaid or a Medicaid Waiver, Illinois looks back 60 months (5 years) at your financial history.

The state checks whether you gave away assets or sold them below fair market value. If you did, you may face a penalty period where Medicaid won’t pay for your care.

This does NOT apply to regular AABD Medicaid. The look-back rule only applies to long-term care programs.

Source: Illinois HFS and MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org

Spousal Impoverishment Protections 2026

When one spouse needs nursing home care, Illinois protects the other spouse from poverty. These rules ensure the community spouse (the spouse staying at home) can keep enough income and assets to live.

Community Spouse Income Protection

How this works: If the community spouse earns less than $4,066.50 per month, the nursing home spouse can transfer income to them — up to that amount. This protects the at-home spouse from losing all household income.

Community Spouse Asset Protection

How this works: When one spouse enters a nursing home, all assets are considered jointly owned. But the community spouse can keep up to $162,660 of the couple’s total assets. The applicant spouse must spend down to $17,500.

The family home is exempt as long as the community spouse lives in it or the applicant intends to return.

Source: CMS Spousal Impoverishment Standards 2026

Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD)

Illinois offers a special program for people with disabilities who work. It has higher income limits than regular AABD Medicaid.

Asset limit: $25,000

This program lets you earn more and still keep Medicaid coverage while you work.

Source: Illinois HFS HBWD Program

Special Eligibility Categories

Some groups qualify under special rules with different (or no) income limits.

Former Foster Youth

If you were in foster care at age 18 or older, you qualify for Medicaid automatically until age 26. There is no income limit and no asset test for this group.

Immigration Status

Illinois provides some coverage regardless of immigration status:

• Emergency Medicaid — Available for undocumented immigrants for childbirth and urgent medical emergencies.
• Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors — Covers immigrants age 65+ who don’t qualify for regular Medicaid.
• Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (ages 42–64) — This program ended July 1, 2025.

Benefit Access Program

Illinois seniors (65+) and people with disabilities (ages 16+) may qualify for the Benefit Access Program for transit and license plate discounts. Income limits differ from Medicaid. Visit Illinois Secretary of State for details.

What If Your Income Is Too High?

Don’t give up if you’re slightly over the limit. Illinois offers several programs to help.

Spend-Down Program (Medically Needy)

The spend-down works like an insurance deductible. Illinois sets a medically needy income limit (MNIL):

How it works:

Your income minus the MNIL = your spend-down amount.

Example: You earn $1,630/month. The limit is $1,330. Your spend-down is $300. Once you have $300 in medical bills in a month, Medicaid covers everything else.

You can meet your spend-down two ways:

1. Submit medical bills (doctor visits, prescriptions, Medicare premiums) that total your spend-down amount.
2. Pay the spend-down directly to Illinois DHS like a monthly premium.

Qualified Income Trusts (Miller Trusts)

If you need nursing home care and your income is too high, a Miller Trust may help. You deposit your excess income into the trust. This brings your countable income below the limit.

An attorney must set up the trust. The trust funds go toward your care costs.

Marketplace Insurance

If you earn too much for Medicaid but not enough to afford insurance, check healthcare.gov. You may qualify for premium tax credits that reduce your monthly cost by 50–90%.

How Illinois Compares to Other States

Illinois has generous Medicaid income limits compared to most states. Here’s why:

• Illinois expanded Medicaid under the ACA in 2014. Ten states still have not expanded.
• In non-expansion states, childless adults often get no Medicaid at all.
• Non-expansion states may limit parents to 50% FPL or less — just $7,825/year for an individual in 2026.
• Illinois eliminated the “coverage gap” so no one falls between Medicaid and Marketplace subsidies.

See how all 50 states compare: Medicaid Income Limits by State 2026

How to Apply for Illinois Medicaid

Applying is free. You have several options.

Online (Fastest)

Go to abe.illinois.gov. You can:

• Complete the application online
• Upload documents
• Save your progress and come back later
• Check your application status

By Phone

Call the IDHS Help Line: 1-800-843-6154

• Available Monday through Friday
• Interpreters available for non-English speakers
• TTY: 1-800-447-6404

In Person

Visit your local Family Community Resource Center. Staff can help you fill out the application. Find your nearest office here.

Documents You’ll Need

Gather these before you start:

• Photo ID or birth certificate
• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters)
• Proof of Illinois residency (utility bill, lease)
• Immigration documents (if applicable)

Tip: Don’t wait to gather every document. Apply first. The agency will tell you exactly what they need.

Processing Times

• Regular applications: 45 days
• Disability applications: Up to 90 days
• Pregnant women: Can get presumptive eligibility (instant temporary coverage) at any hospital or clinic
• Retroactive coverage: Medicaid can cover bills from up to 3 months before your application date

Recent Changes for 2026

Illinois made several important updates this year:

Income limits increased ~3%. All FPL-based limits rose when the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines took effect on January 15, 2026.

AABD asset limit jumped to $17,500. This was previously $2,000 for decades. The increase helps thousands of seniors and disabled adults who were just over the old limit.

Home equity limit raised to $752,000. Up from $730,000 in 2025.

Spousal resource allowance: $162,660. Up from $157,920 in 2025.

CSMNA: $4,066.50/month. Up from $3,948 in 2025.

Postpartum coverage: 12 months. Illinois now covers new mothers for a full year after birth (previously 60 days).

Program ended: Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (ages 42–64) ended July 1, 2025.

Federal update: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act may affect future Medicaid funding. Work requirements for ACA expansion adults may begin in 2027. Check our blog for updates.

Illinois HFS MAGI Income Limits — Official Reference

For those looking for the official HFS MAGI income standards used by caseworkers, here is the complete reference table:

ACA Adult (138% FPL) — Monthly Gross Income

AABD / QMB (100% FPL) — Monthly Gross Income

Does not include the $25 income disregard applied to each category.

Official source: Illinois DHS WAG 25-03-02 Medical FPLs and IL Aging 2026 Medicaid Income Standards

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Resources

Always verify information with these official sources:

• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services: hfs.illinois.gov
• Apply Online: abe.illinois.gov
• IDHS Help Line: 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-800-447-6404)
• Official Income Standards: DHS WAG 25-03-02
• 2026 Medicaid Income Standards PDF: IL Aging Document
• Illinois Legal Aid: illinoislegalaid.org
• Federal Poverty Guidelines: HHS ASPE

Bottom Line: Illinois offers many paths to Medicaid coverage. Most adults qualify with income under $1,835/month. Married couples qualify at $2,489/month (ACA) or $1,803/month (AABD). Children qualify at much higher limits. Even if you’re over the limit, spend-down and special programs can help. Don’t assume you won’t qualify — check with our free calculator or apply to find out.

CheckMedicaid.com is not affiliated with any government agency. This content is for educational purposes only. Always verify eligibility with your state Medicaid agency before making coverage decisions.

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