Texas Medicaid eligibility income limits depend entirely on which category you fall into. Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, so there is no general low-income pathway for adults. If you are a child, pregnant, a parent or caretaker relative with extremely low income, 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability, you may qualify when your income (and in some cases your assets) falls under the ceiling for your group. If you are a childless adult under 65 without a qualifying disability, you cannot enroll in Texas Medicaid no matter how little you earn.
Do You Fit a Covered Category
Income only matters once you fit one of the groups Texas covers:
- Children under 19.
- Pregnant women.
- Parents and caretaker relatives of dependent children.
- Adults 65 and older.
- People with a qualifying disability, usually through pathways tied to Supplemental Security Income.
If none of these describe you, the federal Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov is the main alternative, and subsidies there depend on your income.
2026 Income Limits by Category
For children, pregnant women, and parents, Texas uses the Modified Adjusted Gross Income method. MAGI is roughly your federal tax return income with a few adjustments, counted across your household. The state compares your monthly household income to a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level, which for 2026 starts at $15,960 per year for one person and $33,000 for a family of four.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy coverage reaches up to 198% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2026, the monthly household income cap is:
- $2,634 for a household of one.
- $3,571 for a household of two.
- $4,508 for a household of three.
- $5,445 for a household of four.
- Add $938 for each additional family member.2Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal
A pregnant applicant is entitled to a decision within 15 business days and can postpone most verification documents, other than identity, for up to 30 days after applying.3Texas Health and Human Services. Texas Works Handbook – A-140, Expedited Service
Children
Children’s limits depend on age. Infants under one qualify at up to 144% of the Federal Poverty Level, which comes out to $3,279 per month for a family of three in 2026. Children ages one through 18 qualify at up to 133%, or $3,028 per month for that same family of three.4Texas Health and Human Services. MEPD and TW Bulletin 26-04 – 2026 Federal Poverty Level
A child who earns too much for Medicaid may still qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which has higher income ceilings. One protection worth knowing: children under 19 get 12 months of continuous eligibility. If your household income rises mid-year, your child’s coverage continues through the end of that 12-month period.5Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – B-8200, Redetermining Eligibility
Parents and Caretaker Relatives
This is the restrictive one. Parents and caretaker relatives qualify only when income falls to roughly 10% to 15% of the Federal Poverty Level. Based on Texas Health and Human Services Commission guidelines, that is about $230 per month for a family of three and about $277 per month for a family of four.6Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for Parents and Caretakers A parent working even 15 hours a week at minimum wage would exceed these limits.
Seniors and People With Disabilities
Elderly and disabled applicants are not evaluated under MAGI. Texas uses income criteria tied to Supplemental Security Income, and those categories also carry asset tests.7Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – D-3200, Eligibility If you want home and community-based services under the STAR+PLUS program, the state also requires a medical necessity determination showing you need a nursing facility level of care.8Texas Health and Human Services. STAR+PLUS Program Support Unit Operational Procedures Handbook – 1200, STAR+PLUS HCBS Program Eligibility
Asset Limits for Seniors and People With Disabilities
Asset tests apply only to SSI-related categories. Children, pregnant women, and parents applying under MAGI are not subject to an asset test; the state looks only at their income.
For individuals in SSI-related categories, countable resources cannot exceed $2,000. For married couples, the limit is $3,000.9Social Security Administration. Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Resources Your primary home and one vehicle used for transportation are generally excluded. Bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and additional vehicles count.
If your countable assets are over the limit, you may need to spend down before you qualify. Allowable spending includes paying off debt, making home repairs, or prepaying funeral expenses. Giving assets away or selling them below market value is a different matter and triggers a penalty period reviewed over the 60 months before you apply.10Legal Information Institute. Texas Administrative Code 1-358.401 – Transfer of Assets on or After February 8, 2006
Spousal Protections
When one spouse needs nursing facility care and the other stays at home, federal law protects the community spouse from being left destitute. The community spouse keeps a protected share of the couple’s combined assets, called the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. For 2026, that allowance runs from a minimum of $32,532 up to a maximum of $162,660, depending on the couple’s total countable resources. The community spouse is also entitled to a minimum monthly income allowance of $4,066 for living expenses.
Residency and Citizenship
You have to live in Texas and intend to stay. The state usually relies on your own statement about residency, but can ask for a utility bill, rent receipt, mortgage statement, or Texas driver’s license.7Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – D-3200, Eligibility
Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants. Legal permanent residents generally meet the standard, but some immigration categories carry a five-year waiting period before Medicaid eligibility begins. The Health and Human Services Commission verifies citizenship and immigration status through federal databases.11Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – D-8300, Qualified Alien Categories
If You Qualify, How to Apply
Gather Social Security numbers for everyone seeking coverage, proof of identity and citizenship, recent pay stubs or tax returns for income, and bank and investment statements if you are applying under an elderly or disabled category.12Your Texas Benefits. Documents To Send With Your Application Disability applicants who do not already receive SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance will also need medical records covering history, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and functional limitations.13Social Security Administration. Disability Evaluation Under Social Security – Evidence Requirements
You can apply online through the Your Texas Benefits website or mobile app, by mail using Form H1010, or in person at a local Health and Human Services office. Most applications are decided within 45 days. Disability cases where the disability has not already been established through Social Security can take up to 90 days because they require a separate determination by the HHSC Disability Determination Unit.14Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – B-6400, Processing Deadlines Pregnant women and active-duty military members and their dependents get decisions within 15 business days.3Texas Health and Human Services. Texas Works Handbook – A-140, Expedited Service
Keeping Coverage After You Qualify
Texas redetermines eligibility at least once every 12 months. You will receive a renewal form before your coverage period ends, and failure to respond ends your benefits even if you still qualify. You also have to report changes that affect eligibility, such as a rise in income, a change in household size, or a move. The state will begin a review within 10 business days of learning about changes that may affect your benefits, and you get at least 10 calendar days from the date of any notice to respond with the information requested.5Texas Health and Human Services. Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities Handbook – B-8200, Redetermining Eligibility
If your application is denied, you have 90 days from the effective date of the action to request a fair hearing, by phone, in writing, or in person.15Texas Health and Human Services. Texas Works Handbook – B-1020, Time Period for Requesting Fair Hearing Most denials turn on missing documentation or income calculation errors, both of which are correctable with the right records.