The monthly income limit for Medicaid in Illinois depends on which group you fall into. For a single adult between 19 and 64, the cutoff in 2026 is about $1,835 a month, set at 138 percent of the federal poverty level.1ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Seniors and people with disabilities face a lower limit but get a small income disregard. Children and pregnant women can qualify at considerably higher incomes. The limits rise with household size, and some programs have no asset test at all while others do.
Adults Ages 19 to 64
Adults in this age range qualify through the Affordable Care Act expansion category. The state looks only at income. There is no asset or resource test, and you need to be a U.S. citizen or hold qualifying immigration status and live in Illinois.2Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Affordable Care Act
Using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, the monthly income limits work out to approximately:1ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $1,835
- 2 people: $2,489
- 3 people: $3,142
- 4 people: $3,795
- 5 people: $4,448
- 6 people: $5,101
These numbers refresh every year once the federal government publishes new poverty guidelines, usually in January. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) posts the exact figures on its site once they take effect.
Seniors and People with Disabilities
If you are 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability, your application runs through the Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD) category. The income standard is 100 percent of the federal poverty level.3Illinois Department of Human Services. WAG 25-03-02 (2) Medical FPLs Before the state compares your income to the limit, it subtracts a $25 monthly disregard, so your actual earnings can be slightly above the FPL figure.4Illinois Department on Aging. 2025/2026 SHIP Main Handout
Based on the 2026 guidelines, the effective monthly limits after the $25 disregard are roughly:1ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $1,355
- 2 people: $1,828
AABD Medical also has a resource test. Since May 2023, the asset limit is $17,500, regardless of household size.5Illinois Department of Human Services. PM 07-02-01 Asset Limits Countable assets include savings, investments, and certain property. Your home, one vehicle, household furnishings, and personal belongings generally do not count.
What If Your Income Is a Little Too High
Illinois runs a spend-down program for people whose income or assets are over the AABD limits. Each month, you cover a set amount of medical costs out of pocket. Once your bills or receipts reach that amount, the state issues a medical card for the rest of the month.6Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. HFS 591SP Medicaid Spenddown
Expenses that count toward spend-down include doctor and hospital bills, prescription costs, health insurance premiums (including Medicare premiums), dental care, medical equipment, and transportation to medical appointments. Unpaid medical bills count too, as long as they are dated no earlier than six months before you submit them.6Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. HFS 591SP Medicaid Spenddown
Instead of collecting medical bills every month, you can also use the Pay-in Spenddown option. You send the monthly amount directly to HFS by money order, cashier’s check, or credit card, or you combine a partial payment with medical receipts to reach the required total.6Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. HFS 591SP Medicaid Spenddown
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women qualify through the Moms and Babies program if household income is at or below 213 percent of the FPL, a figure that already builds in a standard 5 percent income disregard.7Illinois Department of Human Services. PM 06-09-03 Income Requirements The monthly limits HFS publishes are:8Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Moms and Babies
- Family of 2: $3,628
- Family of 3: $4,583
- Family of 4: $5,538
Coverage includes prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Once you are approved, coverage continues for 12 months after the month your pregnancy ends, no matter how your income or household changes during that stretch.9Illinois Department of Human Services. MR 24.01 Postpartum Update If you have Moms and Babies coverage when the baby is born, the baby automatically gets All Kids for a year.8Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Moms and Babies
Children
Children qualify through All Kids. The program covers kids regardless of immigration status or pre-existing conditions, and it has tiers that match coverage cost to household income.10Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All Kids – About All Kids All Kids Assist is free for the lowest-income families. All Kids Share has no premiums but small co-payments. All Kids Premium Level 1 charges $15 to $30 a month depending on how many children are enrolled. All Kids Premium Level 2 is for higher-income families; for a family of four, that tier reaches up to about $7,023 a month in income.11Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. How Much Does It Cost
Federal law requires 12 months of continuous eligibility for children under 19 in Medicaid or CHIP. A child who qualifies keeps coverage for the full year even if the household’s income climbs during that time.12Medicaid.gov. Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP Coverage
How Illinois Counts Your Income
For most Medicaid categories, Illinois measures income using Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). MAGI starts with your adjusted gross income from your federal tax return and adds back any untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest.13Get Covered Illinois. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) For most people, MAGI is very close to adjusted gross income.
Several income sources are not counted:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)13Get Covered Illinois. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
- Child support payments you receive
- Veterans’ disability benefits
- Gifts and inheritances
If your income swings from month to month, averaging several recent months gives a more accurate picture than any one paycheck.
Self-Employment
Self-employed applicants report net income, meaning gross revenue minus allowable business expenses. Deductible expenses include supplies, fuel, business insurance premiums, cell phone charges, licensing fees, and vehicle costs tied to the business.14Illinois Department of Human Services. Budgeting Self-employment Income You can document these with business ledgers, invoices, receipts, or tax returns. To convert weekly or biweekly expenses to a monthly figure, multiply by 4.3.
A Note on Immigration Status
Meeting the income limit is not the only requirement. For full Medicaid benefits, you generally need to be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States for at least five years.15Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Immigrant Eligibility for Medicaid FAQ Children under 19 and pregnant women are exempt from the five-year waiting period, and All Kids covers children regardless of immigration status.10Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All Kids – About All Kids
When the Numbers Change
Every dollar figure above is tied to the federal poverty level, which is updated once a year. New guidelines usually come out in January, and the Illinois monthly limits shift once HFS applies them. If you are near a cutoff, check the current HFS tables for your category before assuming you are over or under.