Texas Medicaid Income Limits 2026: Chart by Household Size & Family of 4
Quick answer: Texas 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 12% 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 Texas 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.
Texas Medicaid is the Texas Medicaid program — children's coverage runs under STAR (managed care). The 2026 Texas Medicaid income limits are the figures on this page, shown as both the state percentages and dollar charts by household size.
Verification: Texas's handbook lists 198% / 144% / 133% FPL by child age band and 201% 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-verified203% FPL effectiveChildren 0-11 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 203% of the federal poverty level — about $2,700/month for a household of 1 and $5,583/month for a family of 4.
| 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 | $2,700 | $3,661 | $4,622 | $5,583 | $6,543 | $7,504 | $8,465 | $9,426 |
Base standard 198% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 203% effective. Larger households: add roughly $961/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.
Children 1-5 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
State-verified149% FPL effectiveChildren 1-5 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 149% of the federal poverty level — about $1,982/month for a household of 1 and $4,098/month for a family of 4.
| 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 | $1,982 | $2,687 | $3,392 | $4,098 | $4,803 | $5,508 | $6,213 | $6,919 |
Base standard 144% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 149% effective. Larger households: add roughly $705/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.
Children 6-18 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
State-verified138% FPL effectiveChildren 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.
| 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 — Texas CHIP) — 2026 income limits
State-verified206% FPL effectiveChildren (separate CHIP — Texas CHIP) income limits 2026: 206% of the federal poverty level — about $2,740/month for a household of 1 and $5,665/month for a family of 4.
| 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 | $2,740 | $3,715 | $4,690 | $5,665 | $6,640 | $7,615 | $8,590 | $9,565 |
Base standard 201% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 206% effective. Larger households: add roughly $975/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 Texas CHIP name.
Pregnant women (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
203% FPL effectivePregnant women (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 203% of the federal poverty level — about $2,700/month for a household of 1 and $5,583/month for a family of 4.
| 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 | $2,700 | $3,661 | $4,622 | $5,583 | $6,543 | $7,504 | $8,465 | $9,426 |
Base standard 198% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 203% effective. Larger households: add roughly $961/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 12% 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.
Texas 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 Texas'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).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Texas Medicaid income limit in 2026?
It depends on the coverage group. Texas 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 12% 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 Texas?
There is no single number — every coverage group has its own ceiling. In Texas, adults have no expansion ceiling; the parents and caretakers standard runs to roughly 12% FPL. Children and pregnant women stay covered at much higher levels: children to 203% FPL and pregnant women to 203% FPL.
What is the income limit for Children 0-11 in Texas?
Children 0-11 (Medicaid): 203% of the federal poverty level, about $2,700/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 Texas?
Children 1-5 (Medicaid): 149% of the federal poverty level, about $1,982/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 Texas?
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 Texas?
Children (separate CHIP — Texas CHIP): 206% of the federal poverty level, about $2,740/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 Texas CHIP name.
What is the income limit for Pregnant women in Texas?
Pregnant women (Medicaid): 203% of the federal poverty level, about $2,700/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 Texas 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. Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) publishes those figures and makes the final determination.
What are the Texas Medicaid income limits in 2026?
Texas Medicaid is the Texas Medicaid program; children's coverage runs under STAR (managed care). Its income limits are the ones on this page: Texas 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 12% FPL, converted by CMS from the state's dollar-based standard. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.
Sources
Was this page helpful?
Reviewed by Gavin YE, Technical Director, ClearRules Labs.
Page last reviewed 2026-09-21