Kansas Medicaid, called KanCare, does not use one income limit. It uses two separate tests, depending on who’s applying. Families, children, and pregnant women are measured against one set of limits.
Seniors and people with disabilities applying for long-term care are measured against a different test that works almost the opposite way. This guide covers both.
Quick Answer
- Pregnant women and infants under age 1 qualify at or below 171% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Children ages 1–5 qualify at or below 149% FPL; children ages 6–18 qualify at or below 133% FPL.
- Parents and caretaker relatives qualify at or below 38% FPL, a much lower threshold than the child and pregnancy categories.
- Kansas has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so most adults under 65 without a qualifying child, pregnancy, or disability have no income pathway into KanCare, regardless of how low their income is.
- Seniors and people with disabilities applying for long-term care are measured differently: Kansas has no hard income cap. Income above the limit is handled through a spend-down, not a denial. The asset limit for this group is $2,000 for a single applicant ($3,000 for a couple).
- A spouse who stays home while the other spouse is in care can keep up to $162,660 in assets and a monthly income allowance of up to $4,067 in 2026.
- Children who earn too much for Medicaid may still qualify for CHIP, with monthly premiums of $20 to $50 for some families.
- KDHE has not published a current 2026 dollar-amount table converting every MAGI category into exact monthly figures, so the family-category dollar amounts below are calculated from Kansas’s official percentages, not copied from a state chart. Confirm your exact number with KanCare before relying on it.
Two Different Kansas Medicaid Income Tests
Before looking at any number, it matters which test applies to you.
| MAGI test (families) | ABD/long-term-care test (seniors & disabled) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it covers | Children, pregnant women, parents/caretaker relatives | People age 65+, blind, or disabled, including nursing-home and waiver applicants |
| Income limit style | Hard percentage-of-FPL ceiling | No hard cap — spend-down instead |
| Asset test? | None | Yes — $2,000 single / $3,000 couple |
| What happens if you’re over the limit | Generally not eligible for that category | Still eligible; excess income goes toward cost of care |
Mixing these two up is the most common source of confusion. A parent worrying about a savings account, or a senior assuming a pension is “too high,” is usually applying the wrong test to their situation.
MAGI Income Limits for Families, Children, and Pregnant Women
Kansas measures family-related Medicaid eligibility as a percentage of the FPL, not a flat dollar amount.
| Category | Income Limit (% of FPL) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant women | 171% FPL | Includes pregnant minors; based on countable income and household size |
| Infants under age 1 | 171% FPL | Medicaid poverty-level group |
| Children ages 1–5 | 149% FPL | Medicaid poverty-level group |
| Children ages 6–18 | 133% FPL | Medicaid poverty-level group |
| Children ages 6–18, 113%–133% FPL | M-CHIP (special funding group) | Follows Medicaid rules; funding source differs based on other insurance |
| Parents/caretaker relatives (Caretaker Medical) | 38% FPL | Must also meet Caretaker Medical criteria, including care and control of a child |
Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KFMAM §2210 and §2271.
None of the MAGI categories above use an asset or savings test. Federal rules bar Kansas from applying one to this group.
Estimated 2026 Dollar Limits by Household Size (MAGI Categories)
These figures are calculated, not copied from a Kansas-published dollar chart. They apply Kansas’s official FPL percentages to the 2026 HHS federal poverty guidelines. Use them as a general guide, and confirm your exact limit with KanCare before assuming you do or don’t qualify.
| Household Size | Pregnant Women / Infants (171%) Monthly | Children 1–5 (149%) Monthly | Children 6–18 (133%) Monthly | Caretaker Relatives (38%) Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,274 | $1,982 | $1,769 | $505 |
| 2 | $3,084 | $2,687 | $2,398 | $685 |
| 3 | $3,893 | $3,392 | $3,028 | $865 |
| 4 | $4,702 | $4,098 | $3,658 | $1,045 |
| 5 | $5,512 | $4,803 | $4,287 | $1,225 |
| 6 | $6,321 | $5,508 | $4,917 | $1,405 |
Add roughly one more household member’s share for each additional person, following the same percentage of the federal guideline.
Why There’s No Official 2026 MAGI Dollar Chart Yet
Kansas’s KFMAM policy manual confirms the FPL percentages above as current through August 2026, but directs eligibility workers to a separate appendix, F-8, for exact monthly dollar standards. The only version of that appendix independently confirmed for this article is marked “Rev. 01-14,” meaning it dates to 2014 and does not reflect current amounts.
A separate KDHE income chart effective July 2026 through June 2027 uses a 185% FPL standard, but that chart applies to a different program and should not be used for KanCare Medicaid eligibility.
If you want the guaranteed accurate figure for your situation, contact the KanCare Clearinghouse using the number below.
How Kansas Counts Income for MAGI Categories
Kansas uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for the categories above. This is the same methodology used for ACA marketplace subsidies, with Medicaid-specific adjustments.
- Your countable income generally starts with your taxable income, plus items Kansas adds back in, such as tax-exempt Social Security income, interest, and foreign income.
- This is not the same as your gross paycheck. Some pre-tax deductions can lower your countable income.
- Kansas compares your total countable income against the monthly FPL standard for your household size, using your tax household or MAGI budget unit.
- Meeting the income limit does not automatically mean you qualify. You must also meet nonfinancial requirements, including Kansas residency and citizenship or qualified immigration status.
If you’re unsure how your income will be counted, a Medicaid Eligibility Calculator in 2026 can help you estimate where you stand before you apply.
Why Adults Under 65 Without Children Usually Don’t Qualify
Kansas is one of the states that has not adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. In states that expanded, adults under 65 without a qualifying condition can generally qualify up to 138% FPL. Kansas has no equivalent group.
This creates a coverage gap: an adult below the poverty line who doesn’t fit the narrow Caretaker Medical standard (38% FPL, and only for those caring for a dependent child) may earn too much for Medicaid but too little to qualify for Marketplace premium subsidies, which generally start at 100% FPL.
If you are an adult under 65 without a qualifying child, pregnancy, or disability, you likely do not have a KanCare pathway at any income level under the MAGI rules described above.
Income and Asset Limits for Seniors and People with Disabilities (ABD/Long-Term Care)
This is where Kansas Medicaid works differently, and it’s often the more urgent question for families dealing with a parent’s nursing home costs.
There is no hard income ceiling for long-term-care Medicaid in Kansas. Kansas is a “medically needy” spend-down state. A high pension or Social Security check does not automatically disqualify someone.
- Protected income standard: Equal to the SSI Federal Benefit Rate — $994/month for an individual and $1,491/month for a couple in 2026.
- Institutional income standard: 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, roughly $2,982/month, used as a special income standard for nursing-facility and waiver eligibility.
- Asset limit: $2,000 in countable assets for a single applicant, $3,000 when both spouses apply. The home (within an equity limit), one vehicle, household goods, and prepaid burial arrangements are generally exempt.
- No Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) requirement, because Kansas has no income cliff to plan around the way strict income-cap states do.
If income is above the protected standard, the person may still qualify through:
- Patient liability — for someone already receiving nursing-facility care, income above a small personal needs allowance goes toward the cost of care rather than blocking eligibility.
- Spend-down — for someone not yet in a facility, incurring enough medical expenses to absorb the excess income can bring them under the limit for that period.
Personal Needs Allowance
A Kansas nursing-facility resident on Medicaid keeps a Personal Needs Allowance of $62/month for personal spending. The rest of their countable income goes toward the cost of care.
Protecting a Spouse Who Stays Home
When one spouse needs long-term care and the other remains at home, federal spousal-impoverishment rules protect the at-home spouse from losing all household resources.
| Protection | 2026 Amount | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) | Up to $162,660 | Countable assets the at-home spouse may keep, on top of the applicant’s own limit |
| Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) | Up to $4,067/month | Monthly income the at-home spouse may keep; income can be shifted from the applicant to reach it |
Source: California Department of Health Care Services, ACWDL 26-02, applying the federally set 2026 spousal impoverishment standards under Section 1924 of the Social Security Act. These figures are set at the federal level and apply as caps nationwide, including in Kansas.
The Five-Year Look-Back
Kansas reviews asset transfers made in the 60 months (5 years) before a long-term-care application. Giving away money or property for less than fair value in that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid won’t pay for care, even if the person otherwise qualifies.
Limited exceptions exist for transfers between spouses and certain transfers to a disabled child. Anyone considering moving assets ahead of a long-term-care application should talk to an elder-law attorney first.
Medically Needy (Spenddown) Option for Other Groups
Kansas also offers a Medically Needy program for pregnant people and children whose income is above the standard MAGI limit.
Under this pathway, a person may become eligible once medical expenses reduce their countable income below the required level for that budget period.
Rules differ from the standard MAGI categories and use separate financial criteria.
Children Who Don’t Qualify for Medicaid May Qualify for CHIP
If a child’s household income is above the Medicaid limit but still relatively low, the child may qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which Kansas runs through KanCare.
Some CHIP-eligible households pay a monthly premium between $20 and $50, depending on income and family size.
CHIP has its own premium structure and is administratively distinct from Medicaid, though both run through KanCare.
To see how Kansas compares with other states, check Medicaid Income Limits by State in 2026.
How to Apply and Confirm Your Exact Limit
Because the public MAGI dollar chart is outdated, and because ABD/long-term-care eligibility depends on individual spend-down math, the most reliable way to know your exact number is to apply or call directly.
KanCare Clearinghouse Phone: 800-792-4884 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Online: KanCare’s self-service portal
Apply even if you think your income looks too high, especially for long-term care. Because Kansas uses patient liability and spend-down rather than a hard cap for that pathway, many people who assume they’re disqualified are not.
For a broader look at how eligibility works across categories, see Medicaid Eligibility in 2026.
FAQ
Does Kansas use gross income or net income for Medicaid eligibility?
For MAGI categories, neither exactly. Kansas starts with taxable income and adds back certain items like tax-exempt Social Security income. For ABD/long-term-care eligibility, Kansas counts most income sources against the protected standard, with specific deductions allowed.
Has Kansas expanded Medicaid to more adults?
No. Kansas has not adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. The confirmed family-related MAGI categories are parents/caretaker relatives, pregnant women, children under 19, and medically needy pregnant women and children. There is no general adult group.
Is there an income limit for nursing home Medicaid in Kansas?
Not a hard one. Kansas is a medically needy spend-down state, so a nursing-home applicant with income above the protected standard can still qualify. They keep a $62/month personal needs allowance, and the rest goes toward the cost of care.
What if my income is slightly above the MAGI limit?
You may still qualify through the Medically Needy (spend-down) program if you are pregnant or a child, once medical expenses bring your countable income below the required level.
Does Kansas require a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust)?
No. Because Kansas has no income cliff for long-term-care Medicaid, applicants use spend-down or patient liability instead of routing income through a trust.
Do CHIP and Medicaid have the same income limits in Kansas?
No. CHIP is a separate program for children whose family income is above the Medicaid limit but still within CHIP guidelines. Some CHIP households pay a monthly premium.
Where can I check Kansas Medicaid fee or payment information?
For provider payment and fee information, see the Medicaid Fee Schedule FY 2027.
Bottom Line
Kansas Medicaid runs two different income tests. Families, children, and pregnant women face hard percentage-of-FPL ceilings with no asset test. Seniors and people with disabilities applying for long-term care face no hard income cap but do face a $2,000 asset limit, with spend-down and patient liability handling income above the protected standard. Confirm your exact eligibility with the KanCare Clearinghouse before making decisions based on any published figure, including this one.
Last Updated: August 23, 2026
Sources:
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Family Medical Assistance Manual (KFMAM) §2210, Medicaid — policy page dated August 17, 2026
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KFMAM §2271, Medicaid Poverty Level Eligibles — policy page dated May 31, 2026
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KFMAM §6410, Medical Program Standards — policy page dated August 7, 2026
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KFMAM §5000, Income Guidelines — policy page dated August 11, 2026
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, KanCare Eligibility Guidelines
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- Social Security Administration, Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2026, Federal Register notice confirming the 2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rate of $994 (individual) and $1,491 (couple)
- California Department of Health Care Services, ACWDL 26-02, reporting the federally set 2026 spousal impoverishment standards (CSRA and MMMNA) under Section 1924 of the Social Security Act
Disclaimer: CheckMedicaid.com is not affiliated with any government agency. This content is for educational purposes only. For an official eligibility decision, contact your state Medicaid agency.
