Louisiana Medicaid Income Limits for 2026

Medicaid income limits in Louisiana depend on which Medicaid program or eligibility category applies. There is not one income limit that determines Medicaid eligibility for everyone.

A child, an adult with a disability, an older adult receiving home and community-based services, and an adult enrolled through Medicaid Expansion may all be subject to different financial eligibility rules.

Below is a practical overview of several 2026 Louisiana Medicaid income limits, including important information for individuals and families receiving or seeking home and community-based services.

Important: This information is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, medical, or Medicaid eligibility advice and does not guarantee eligibility, coverage, authorization, or approval of services. Medicaid eligibility depends on the specific program and individual circumstances. Louisiana Medicaid makes all eligibility determinations.

2026 Louisiana Medicaid Monthly Income Limits

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) publishes monthly income limits for Medicaid programs each year. The following limits became effective March 1, 2026. (Louisiana Department of Health)

LDH also publishes limits for larger household sizes and additional Medicaid programs.

View LDH’s current Medicaid income limits

Medicaid Expansion

For 2026, Louisiana’s Medicaid Expansion income limit is $1,836 per month for a household of one, increasing based on household size. Medicaid Expansion generally applies to qualifying adults ages 19 through 64 who are not enrolled in Medicare. Other eligibility requirements also apply. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Medicaid Purchase Plan for Workers With Disabilities

Louisiana also has a Medicaid Purchase Plan (MPP) for qualifying people with disabilities who work.

For 2026, LDH lists monthly income limits of:

• $2,660 for an individual
• $3,607 for a household of two

The Medicaid Purchase Plan has additional eligibility requirements, so these figures should not be used by themselves to determine whether someone qualifies. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Are Medicaid Waiver Income Limits the Same?

Not necessarily.

This is an important distinction for individuals receiving or seeking services through programs administered by OAAS or OIDD.

Louisiana’s long-term care financial eligibility rules—including certain Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)—use a different financial framework from the household-income table used for programs such as Medicaid Expansion.

LDH states that an individual seeking Medicaid long-term care or HCBS generally must have countable monthly income at or below three times the monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Benefit Rate, or may potentially be considered under the Medically Needy Spend-Down Program if income exceeds that amount and other requirements are met. (Louisiana Department of Health)

For 2026, the federal SSI benefit rate is $994 per month for an individual. Three times that amount is:

$2,982 per month

This is therefore the 2026 special income level produced by the three-times-SSI standard.

The Social Security Administration confirms that the 2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rate is $994 per month for an eligible individual.

View Louisiana Medicaid’s Long-Term Care eligibility information

However, $2,982 should not be interpreted as a universal Louisiana Medicaid waiver eligibility test. Financial eligibility can involve additional rules, including how income is counted, resource limits, marital circumstances, the Medicaid eligibility category being used, and other requirements. Individuals must also meet the non-financial and program-specific requirements that apply to the service or waiver.

What About Act 421 for Children With Disabilities?

Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option has an especially important income rule for families to understand.

Act 421 allows certain Louisiana children with disabilities to qualify for Medicaid based on the child’s own financial circumstances rather than the parents’ income, provided the child meets the program’s other requirements.

LDH states that a child applying for Act 421 must have countable income at or below the special long-term-care income limit of three times the SSI Federal Benefit Rate. Parental income is excluded when determining this Act 421 financial eligibility requirement. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Using the 2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rate, that special income limit is $2,982 per month for the child in 2026.

That does not mean income is the only requirement. Act 421 also includes requirements related to age, disability, level of care, Louisiana residency, citizenship or eligible immigration status, and the child’s countable resources. (Louisiana Department of Health)

LDH may also request information about the family’s income and resources to determine whether the child qualifies under another Medicaid eligibility category before considering Act 421. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Learn more from LDH about Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option

Does EPSDT Have Its Own Income Limit?

No. EPSDT does not have a separate income limit.

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) is a Medicaid benefit for eligible Medicaid members under age 21, rather than a separate financial eligibility category. (Louisiana Department of Health)

This means a child or young adult must first qualify for Louisiana Medicaid through an applicable eligibility pathway. Depending on the person’s circumstances, that could include programs such as LaCHIP, Act 421, Family Opportunity Act, SSI-related Medicaid eligibility, a waiver, or another Medicaid category.

Once Medicaid eligibility exists, the applicable EPSDT benefits are based on Medicaid requirements, including medical necessity when required—not a separate “EPSDT income limit.”

What If Your Income Is Above the Medicaid Limit?

Being above one income limit does not necessarily mean that no Medicaid pathway is available.

Louisiana has multiple Medicaid eligibility categories, and different rules may apply depending on factors such as:

• Age
• Disability
• Household composition
• Employment
• Medicare enrollment
• Level-of-care needs
• The Medicaid program being considered
• Countable income and, for some programs, countable resources

For example, LDH states that certain individuals seeking long-term care who have income above the applicable special income limit may still be considered through the Medically Needy Spend-Down Program if they meet the program’s requirements. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Families of children with disabilities may also want to understand programs such as Act 421 and the Family Opportunity Act, while working adults with disabilities may want to review the Medicaid Purchase Plan. (Louisiana Department of Health)

The existence of these programs does not mean an individual will qualify. Each has its own requirements.

Does Income Alone Determine Medicaid Eligibility?

No.

An income limit is only one part of Medicaid eligibility.

Depending on the eligibility category, Louisiana Medicaid may also consider factors such as age, disability status, household composition, citizenship or eligible immigration status, Louisiana residency, Medicare status, resources or assets, and whether a person meets an applicable level-of-care requirement. (Louisiana Department of Health)

This is why two people with the same monthly income may not necessarily have the same Medicaid eligibility outcome.

Where Can I Check or Apply for Louisiana Medicaid?

Louisiana Medicaid recommends applying if you are unsure whether you qualify rather than relying only on an income chart.

Applications can be submitted through Louisiana Medicaid’s online Self-Service Portal, by phone, by mail, or through an application center. Medicaid Customer Service can also answer questions about an individual’s application or eligibility category. (Louisiana Department of Health)

Apply for or learn more about Louisiana Medicaid

Louisiana Medicaid Customer Service: 1-888-342-6207

A Note About Medicaid Income Limits

Medicaid income standards and other eligibility rules can change. Some limits are adjusted annually, and different Medicaid programs use different methods for determining which income and resources count.

For that reason, income tables are best used as a general reference—not as an individual eligibility determination.

If you are already receiving Medicaid or waiver services and experience a change in income, employment, household circumstances, or other information that may affect your eligibility, contact Louisiana Medicaid or the appropriate program to determine whether the change needs to be reported.

Important Information: This article is intended to provide general educational information about Louisiana Medicaid programs. It is not legal, financial, medical, benefits-planning, or Medicaid eligibility advice. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as a guarantee of Medicaid eligibility, waiver eligibility, service authorization, coverage, or payment. Program rules and financial standards may change, and individual circumstances can affect how Medicaid rules apply. Eligibility and coverage decisions are made by the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Medicaid, or other applicable government authorities.

Our agency is an independent Louisiana Support Coordination Agency and is not the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Medicaid, the Social Security Administration, or another government agency. References and links to government programs are provided for informational purposes only.