2026 income limits

Tennessee Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Chart by Household Size & Family of 4

Quick answer: Tennessee has not taken the ACA's 138% FPL expansion, so there is no 138% FPL adult ceiling. The only adult standard in the national table is the parents and caretaker relatives category — roughly 84% FPL, converted by CMS from the state's dollar-based standard. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels. The chart below lists the Tennessee Medicaid income requirements and guidelines for 2026 — all effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard, computed from the official 2026 FPL table (ASPE / Federal Register). State standards are from the CMS national eligibility table, as of 2023-12-01.

TennCare is the Tennessee Medicaid program. The 2026 TennCare income limits are the figures on this page, shown as both the state percentages and dollar charts by household size.

Verification: TennCare's reference guide lists 195% / 142% / 133% FPL for children and 250% for the CHIP group. Groups confirmed against the state's own publication are marked State-verified; the remaining groups are published in the CMS national table cited below.

Children 0-11 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits

State-verified200% FPL effective

Children 0-11 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 200% of the federal poverty level — about $2,660/month for a household of 1 and $5,500/month for a family of 4.

2026 Tennessee monthly income limits for Children 0-11 (Medicaid), from a household of 1 to a family of 8. Effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard.
Household	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5	Family of 6	Family of 7	Family of 8
Monthly income limit	$2,660	$3,607	$4,553	$5,500	$6,447	$7,393	$8,340	$9,287

Base standard 195% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 200% effective. Larger households: add roughly $947/month per additional person.

Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

Children 1-5 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits

State-verified147% FPL effective

Children 1-5 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 147% of the federal poverty level — about $1,955/month for a household of 1 and $4,043/month for a family of 4.

2026 Tennessee monthly income limits for Children 1-5 (Medicaid), from a household of 1 to a family of 8. Effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard.
Household	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5	Family of 6	Family of 7	Family of 8
Monthly income limit	$1,955	$2,651	$3,347	$4,043	$4,738	$5,434	$6,130	$6,826

Base standard 142% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 147% effective. Larger households: add roughly $696/month per additional person.

Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

Children 6-18 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits

State-verified138% FPL effective

Children 6-18 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 138% of the federal poverty level — about $1,835/month for a household of 1 and $3,795/month for a family of 4.

2026 Tennessee monthly income limits for Children 6-18 (Medicaid), from a household of 1 to a family of 8. Effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard.
Household	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5	Family of 6	Family of 7	Family of 8
Monthly income limit	$1,835	$2,489	$3,142	$3,795	$4,448	$5,101	$5,755	$6,408

Base standard 133% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 138% effective. Larger households: add roughly $653/month per additional person.

Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

Children (separate CHIP — CoverKids) — 2026 income limits

State-verified255% FPL effective

Children (separate CHIP — CoverKids) income limits 2026: 255% of the federal poverty level — about $3,392/month for a household of 1 and $7,013/month for a family of 4.

2026 Tennessee monthly income limits for Children (separate CHIP — CoverKids), from a household of 1 to a family of 8. Effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard.
Household	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5	Family of 6	Family of 7	Family of 8
Monthly income limit	$3,392	$4,599	$5,806	$7,013	$8,220	$9,427	$10,634	$11,841

Base standard 250% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 255% effective. Larger households: add roughly $1,207/month per additional person.

Separate CHIP coverage for uninsured children above the Medicaid children's ceiling. Benefits match Medicaid; small copays may apply for some services. CMS lists this as a CHIP-funded Medicaid expansion covering children up to age 19 (footnote 1 of the national table), under the CoverKids name.

Pregnant women (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits

200% FPL effective

Pregnant women (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 200% of the federal poverty level — about $2,660/month for a household of 1 and $5,500/month for a family of 4.

2026 Tennessee monthly income limits for Pregnant women (Medicaid), from a household of 1 to a family of 8. Effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard.
Household	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5	Family of 6	Family of 7	Family of 8
Monthly income limit	$2,660	$3,607	$4,553	$5,500	$6,447	$7,393	$8,340	$9,287

Base standard 195% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 200% effective. Larger households: add roughly $947/month per additional person.

Count the expected child(ren) in household size. Federal law guarantees 12 months of postpartum coverage.

Parents & caretaker relatives (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits

State dollar standard (CMS equivalent 84% FPL)

Parents & caretaker relatives (Medicaid) income limits 2026:

The parents and caretaker relatives category. In states that expanded Medicaid, parents above this standard may qualify through the adult expansion group instead. CMS converted this state's dollar-amount standard to a percentage of FPL (footnote 4 of the national table); the state determines eligibility in dollars, not percent.

Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid to adults under the ACA, so there is no 138% FPL adult group and the 2027 work requirement has no expansion population to apply to. The parents and caretaker relatives category is Tennessee's adult standard. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels, shown below. Figures are computed from the official 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

MAGI household size follows federal tax-filing relationships, not who lives under your roof - and a pregnant applicant counts the expected child(ren).

Tennessee Medicaid income limits 2025 (prior year)

If you are checking last year's figures — for example tenncare income limits 2025 family of 4 — here is the 2025 table, computed from the 2025 federal poverty guidelines ($15,650/year for a household of one, published January 2025). Official HHS 2025 Poverty Guidelines (48 contiguous states and DC): first person $15,650, each additional person +$5,500, four-person family $32,150, published January 2025 in the Federal Register. States adopt each year's guidelines into their MAGI income standards early in the year, so 2025 figures applied to most determinations during 2025 and into early 2026.

2025 Tennessee monthly income limits by coverage group, for a family of 1 through 5. Same state percentages, prior-year federal poverty guidelines.
Coverage group	Family of 1	Family of 2	Family of 3	Family of 4	Family of 5
Children 0-11 (Medicaid)	$2,608	$3,525	$4,442	$5,358	$6,275
Children 1-5 (Medicaid)	$1,917	$2,591	$3,265	$3,938	$4,612
Children 6-18 (Medicaid)	$1,800	$2,432	$3,065	$3,697	$4,330
Children (separate CHIP — CoverKids)	$3,326	$4,494	$5,663	$6,832	$8,001
Pregnant women (Medicaid)	$2,608	$3,525	$4,442	$5,358	$6,275

For anything decided today, use the 2026 tables above — those are the figures TennCare — Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration, Division of TennCare applies now.

What does 138% of FPL mean? The federal poverty chart, by household size →Medicaid income limits in every state →Tennessee Medicaid work requirements 2027: hours, exemptions & timeline → Check your 2027 work-requirement compliance paths →Tennessee Medicaid exemptions — run the self-check →On irregular income? The $580/month alternative →When every state's work requirement starts →If coverage ends: ranked fallbacks →State tracker: enforcement dates & disenrollment data →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tennessee Medicaid income limit in 2026?

It depends on the coverage group. Tennessee has not taken the ACA's 138% FPL expansion, so there is no 138% FPL adult ceiling. The only adult standard in the national table is the parents and caretaker relatives category — roughly 84% FPL, converted by CMS from the state's dollar-based standard. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.

What income is too high for Medicaid in Tennessee?

There is no single number — every coverage group has its own ceiling. In Tennessee, adults have no expansion ceiling; the parents and caretakers standard runs to roughly 84% FPL. Children and pregnant women stay covered at much higher levels: children to 200% FPL and pregnant women to 200% FPL.

What is the income limit for Children 0-11 in Tennessee?

Children 0-11 (Medicaid): 200% of the federal poverty level, about $2,660/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

What is the income limit for Children 1-5 in Tennessee?

Children 1-5 (Medicaid): 147% of the federal poverty level, about $1,955/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

What is the income limit for Children 6-18 in Tennessee?

Children 6-18 (Medicaid): 138% of the federal poverty level, about $1,835/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.

What is the income limit for Children in Tennessee?

Children (separate CHIP — CoverKids): 255% of the federal poverty level, about $3,392/month for a household of one. Separate CHIP coverage for uninsured children above the Medicaid children's ceiling. Benefits match Medicaid; small copays may apply for some services. CMS lists this as a CHIP-funded Medicaid expansion covering children up to age 19 (footnote 1 of the national table), under the CoverKids name.

What is the income limit for Pregnant women in Tennessee?

Pregnant women (Medicaid): 200% of the federal poverty level, about $2,660/month for a household of one. Count the expected child(ren) in household size. Federal law guarantees 12 months of postpartum coverage.

What are the Tennessee Medicaid income limits for seniors (65 and older)?

The limits above are MAGI standards for children, pregnant women, parents and adults under 65. People 65 or older (and people with disabilities of any age) qualify under separate non-MAGI categories with their own dollar limits, which can include an asset test. TennCare — Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration, Division of TennCare publishes those figures and makes the final determination.

What are the TennCare income limits in 2026?

TennCare is the Tennessee Medicaid program. Its income limits are the ones on this page: Tennessee has not taken the ACA's 138% FPL expansion, so there is no 138% FPL adult ceiling. The only adult standard in the national table is the parents and caretaker relatives category — roughly 84% FPL, converted by CMS from the state's dollar-based standard. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.

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Reviewed by Gavin YE, Technical Director, ClearRules Labs.

Page last reviewed 2026-09-21