If your state hasn't expanded Medicaid

As of October 2026, ten states haven't adopted the Medicaid expansion: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. In those states, most adults under 65 who don't have children or a disability can't get Medicaid, however low their income.

That still leaves a lot of people who can. Every state has to cover certain groups, and many cover more than the minimum.

Groups every state covers

Children qualify in every state, through Medicaid or CHIP, usually at incomes well above the adult limit. Pregnant women qualify too, and most states now keep coverage for 12 months after the baby is born. People with disabilities can qualify, often through Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which comes with Medicaid in most states. Adults 65 and older with low income and limited savings can qualify as well. Parents and caretaker relatives qualify in every state, but in the non-expansion states the income limit for parents is often very low.

Two states with their own programs

Wisconsin hasn't expanded but covers adults with income up to 100% of the poverty level through BadgerCare. Georgia Pathways covers adults 19 to 64 with income up to 100% of the poverty level who work, study, train or volunteer at least 80 hours a month.

Why you should still apply

You might qualify through a rule you don't know about, and the application also checks whether your children qualify. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, the same application on HealthCare.gov checks whether you can get help paying for a Marketplace plan. If your income is below the poverty level in a state that hasn't expanded, you may not qualify for that help either. Community health centers charge based on income and can still see you.

Sources: Status of state Medicaid expansion decisions, KFF; Medicaid expansion & what it means for you, HealthCare.gov; Medicaid & CHIP coverage, HealthCare.gov.