Cardinal Care Income Limits 2026: Virginia Medicaid Charts by Family Size
Quick answer: most Virginia adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels. The chart below lists the Virginia 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.
Cardinal Care is the Virginia Medicaid program. The 2026 Cardinal Care income limits are the figures on this page, shown as both the state percentages and dollar charts by household size.
Virginia Medicaid work requirement 2027: the federal work-requirement deadline for Virginia is January 1, 2027. The income cutoffs on this page are the 2026 figures in effect now; see the Virginia work-requirement page for hours, exemptions and the reporting timeline.
Verification: All figures come from the CMS national eligibility table (2023-12-01 snapshot); the parents standard is dollar-based (CMS equivalent ~49% FPL) and exact dollars are pending state verification.
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) — 2026 income limits
138% FPL effectiveAdults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) 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.
The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
Children 0-18 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
148% FPL effectiveChildren 0-18 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 148% of the federal poverty level — about $1,968/month for a household of 1 and $4,070/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 | $1,968 | $2,669 | $3,369 | $4,070 | $4,771 | $5,471 | $6,172 | $6,872 |
Base standard 143% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 148% effective. Larger households: add roughly $701/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.
Children (separate CHIP — FAMIS) — 2026 income limits
205% FPL effectiveChildren (separate CHIP — FAMIS) income limits 2026: 205% of the federal poverty level — about $2,727/month for a household of 1 and $5,638/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 | $2,727 | $3,697 | $4,667 | $5,638 | $6,608 | $7,578 | $8,549 | $9,519 |
Base standard 200% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 205% effective. Larger households: add roughly $970/month per additional person.
Separate CHIP coverage for uninsured children above the Medicaid children's ceiling, under the FAMIS name. Benefits match Medicaid; small copays may apply for some services.
Pregnant women — 2026 income limits
148% FPL effectivePregnant women income limits 2026: 148% of the federal poverty level — about $1,968/month for a household of 1 and $4,070/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 | $1,968 | $2,669 | $3,369 | $4,070 | $4,771 | $5,471 | $6,172 | $6,872 |
Base standard 143% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 148% effective. Larger households: add roughly $701/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for pregnant women; Virginia also runs a CHIP-funded pregnancy coverage to 200% FPL. Count the expected child(ren) in household size; 12 months of postpartum coverage applies. No asset test.
Parents & caretaker relatives (dollar standard) — 2026 income limits
State dollar standard (CMS equivalent 49% FPL)Parents & caretaker relatives (dollar standard) income limits 2026: Virginia sets the parents/caretaker income standard in dollars rather than as an FPL percentage; CMS converts it to an equivalent of about 49% FPL for this group. We do not print a dollar schedule until it is verified against Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services — contact them for the exact figures. Parents above this standard qualify through the adult expansion group instead.
Virginia sets the parents/caretaker income standard in dollars rather than as an FPL percentage; CMS converts it to an equivalent of about 49% FPL for this group. We do not print a dollar schedule until it is verified against Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services — contact them for the exact figures. Parents above this standard qualify through the adult expansion group instead.
The parents and caretaker relatives category, set in dollars by the state (CMS equivalent ~49% FPL).
Virginia publishes MAGI standards as a percent of FPL and applies the federal 5-percentage-point income disregard when it makes someone eligible, so each group has a base standard and a slightly higher effective cutoff. The tables below show the effective figures in dollars, 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 Virginia Medicaid income limit in 2026?
It depends on the coverage group. most Virginia adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.
What is the Virginia Medicaid income limit for a family of 2?
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $2,489/month for a family of 2 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
What is the Virginia Medicaid income limit for a family of 3?
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $3,142/month for a family of 3 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
What is the Virginia Medicaid income limit for a family of 4?
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $3,795/month for a family of 4 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
What is the Virginia Medicaid income limit for a family of 5?
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $4,448/month for a family of 5 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
What income is too high for Medicaid in Virginia?
There is no single number — every coverage group has its own ceiling. In Virginia, an adult under 65 qualifies with household income up to $1,835/month for one person (138% FPL). Go above that and the adult group no longer covers you. Children and pregnant women stay covered at much higher levels: children to 148% FPL and pregnant women to 148% FPL.
What is the income limit for Adults 19-64 in Virginia?
Adults 19-64 (Cardinal Care expansion group): 138% of the federal poverty level, about $1,835/month for a household of one. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. No asset test.
What is the income limit for Children 0-18 in Virginia?
Children 0-18 (Medicaid): 148% of the federal poverty level, about $1,968/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for children. No premiums and no asset test.
What is the income limit for Children in Virginia?
Children (separate CHIP — FAMIS): 205% of the federal poverty level, about $2,727/month for a household of one. Separate CHIP coverage for uninsured children above the Medicaid children's ceiling, under the FAMIS name. Benefits match Medicaid; small copays may apply for some services.
What is the income limit for Pregnant women in Virginia?
Pregnant women: 148% of the federal poverty level, about $1,968/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for pregnant women; Virginia also runs a CHIP-funded pregnancy coverage to 200% FPL. Count the expected child(ren) in household size; 12 months of postpartum coverage applies. No asset test.
What are the Virginia 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. Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) publishes those figures and makes the final determination.
What are the Cardinal Care income limits in 2026?
Cardinal Care is the Virginia Medicaid program. Its income limits are the ones on this page: most Virginia adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.
Sources
- National Medicaid & CHIP eligibility levels (income standards as of 2023-12-01) — Medicaid.gov (CMS) (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) — Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (accessed 2026-09-20)
- 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines — HHS/ASPE (accessed 2026-09-20)
Was this page helpful?
Reviewed by Gavin YE, Technical Director, ClearRules Labs.
Page last reviewed 2026-09-21