Medical Assistance (MA) is Minnesota’s Medicaid program – the largest health care program in the state. It provides health insurance coverage for eligible individuals and families in Minnesota with lower household incomes.

Each year, Medical Assistance undergoes annual changes to eligibility and the program’s income limits. If you’re someone on Medical Assistance, or you’re looking into becoming a beneficiary, it’s important to stay informed of those changes to make sure you get the health and financial support you need.

Let’s walk through this year’s Medical Assistance eligibility requirements and income limits for Minnesota Health Care Programs so you’ll have a better idea of what you might qualify for in 2026.

Who is eligible for Medical Assistance?

Whether you’re eligible for Medical Assistance or not depends on a combination of factors, including age, income level and family size, as well as additional factors such as if you’re pregnant or have a disability.

Medical Assistance and other insurance programs available in Minnesota

There are many ways that publicly funded health care programs in the state of Minnesota are delivered, including MinnesotaCare, Special Needs BasicCare (SNBC), Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) and Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) among others. Each program serves different groups of people and has unique requirements.

How to qualify for Medical Assistance

Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s term for Medicaid. It covers low-income Minnesotans, including children and pregnant women, as well as people with disabilities. There is no monthly premium and enrollment is available year-round.

To qualify for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) in Minnesota, you must:

• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying noncitizen
• Have a Social Security number, unless you meet an exception
• Meet income and asset guidelines
• Meet any other program rules (rules vary by program)

What is the income limit for Medical Assistance?

How much income you can have and still qualify for Medical Assistance depends on your age, the size of your family and if you’re pregnant or have a disability. For 2026, income limits have changed, affecting who qualifies for Medical Assistance.

Parents and caretakers

If you are a parent or caretaker or an adult without children, your income must be below 133% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) in 2026. This means if you live in a household with two adults, you’d have to make less than $2,344 a month to be eligible for Medical Assistance. And for larger households, that monthly income limit increases by around $600 for each additional resident.

Children

For children between the ages of two and 18, a family’s income can’t exceed 275% of the FPG to qualify for Medical Assistance. For a family of three, the monthly income limit looks like $6,107. If that child is part of a bigger household, that income limit increases by around $1,200 per additional resident. However, these amounts are slightly higher for infants and toddlers under two years old.

Pregnant women

Pregnant women may be eligible for Medical Assistance if their household income is less than 278% of the FPG. Even if a woman lives alone, she’s considered to be from a household of two – her baby and herself. In this instance, if she makes under $4,899 a month, she may qualify for MA coverage. If her household is bigger, that monthly income limit rises by roughly $1,300 per person.

For a more in-depth look at the 2026 annual income limits for your specific situation, you can use the Income and Asset Guidelines (PDF) from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Minnesota Health Care Programs.

What if your income amount is higher than the limit for Medical Assistance?

If the amount you bring in each month is higher than Medical Assistance’s income limit, don’t worry. No matter your situation, you may still be able to get health insurance using a spenddown. A spenddown lets you deduct certain medical expenses from your income. After deducting these medical expenses, if your income is at or below the limit, MA will pay the remaining costs of covered services.

What is the asset limit for Medical Assistance?

The assets you own, like your car, home or financial investments, might play a role in your eligibility for Medical Assistance.

• Parents, children under 21 and adults without children in the home usually do not have an asset limit.
• Parents and caretaker relatives eligible for Medical Assistance with a spenddown have an asset limit (PDF).
• Seniors and people age 21 and older who are blind or have a disability have an asset limit (PDF).

How to qualify for MinnesotaCare

MinnesotaCare covers lower-income Minnesotans who aren't eligible for Medical Assistance.

To qualify for MinnesotaCare, you must:

• Be under age 65
• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
• Meet income and asset guidelines
• Not be enrolled in or have access to Medicare Part A
• Not be enrolled in Medicare Part B
• Not be incarcerated, unless you’re awaiting disposition of charges

How to enroll in Special Needs BasicCare

For people with disabilities, SNBC provides all the benefits of Medical Assistance but with added perks like care coordination support that helps you access the services you need.

To enroll in SNBC, you must:

• Have a state- or federally-certified disability
• Be between 18 and 64 years old
• Be enrolled in Medical Assistance and don’t have a spenddown at the time of SNBC enrollment

How to qualify for Minnesota Senior Care Plus

Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) is a managed care program that provides people over 65 with Medical Assistance and Elderly Waiver services for personal care assistance, home and community-based services and more.

To qualify for Minnesota Senior Care Plus, you must:

• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying noncitizen
• Have a Social Security number, unless you meet an exception
• Meet income and asset guidelines
• Meet any other program rules (rules vary by program)

How to qualify for Minnesota Senior Health Options

For some residents of Minnesota, it’s possible to combine both Medicare and Medical Assistance after turning 65 in one plan with Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO). These Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are offered by insurance companies, combining the benefits of Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medical Assistance (Medicaid) into one health insurance plan.

In addition to coordinating coverage and integrating care, MSHO plans provide extra benefits, often at no cost. This can include additional dental, hearing and vision coverage, an allowance for over-the-counter medicine and access to health and fitness programs.

MSHO plans also provide an extra layer of support by assigning you an individual care coordinator. These professionals can help you navigate your dual coverage and come up with a health plan, ensuring your access to care.

To qualify for MSHO, you must:

• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be 65 or older
• Be eligible for both Medical Assistance and Medicare Parts A and B

For the most up-to-date eligibility information, visit mn.gov/dhs/health-care/apply.