Methodology & Data Sources
MSP Check is a screening calculator. Federal figures come from HHS, SSA, and CMS. State variations come from KFF's March 2026 survey of Medicaid agencies and are cross-checked against direct state guidance when a state publishes current figures. This page documents the calculation and its limits so you can check our work.
Data as of — 2026 income & asset limits: Aug 2026
How we calculate eligibility
We apply the Social Security Administration's income-counting rules in the order the law requires, then compare your countable income to your state's limit for each tier:
- Apply the state's general income disregard to unearned income first (such as Social Security), then any remainder to earned income. Most states use at least $20; some publish a different amount.
- Apply the $65 earned-income disregard, then disregard half of the remaining earned income.
- Add the countable unearned and earned income, and compare the total to the QMB, SLMB, and QI standards available in that state. Federal minimums are 100%, 120%, and 135% FPL, but 18 states use a more generous income or asset policy in 2026.
- For Alaska and Hawaii, use their separate HHS poverty guideline tables rather than multiplying already-rounded national figures.
You can read the implementation in our open eligibility logic — the same constants and disregard order described above.
The asset test
The federal 2026 resource standard is $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple, excluding a separate burial allowance. State policy varies: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington report no MSP asset test. California uses $130,000 / $195,000, Colorado uses $11,160 / $17,470, and Minnesota uses $10,000 / $18,000. The remaining states use the federal standard in the March 2026 survey.
Our sources
- 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines (HHS / ASPE) →
Individual: $1,330/mo · 2-person household: $1,803/mo. Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher tables.
- 2026 federal MSP standards (Social Security Administration) →
Official federal QMB, SLMB, QI, and resource standards, including the separate Alaska and Hawaii figures.
- 2026 state MSP policy survey (KFF) →
March 2026 state-by-state income percentages, asset limits, and states using more generous eligibility policies.
- Medicare Savings Programs overview (Medicare.gov) →
Program definitions, benefits, federal screening limits, and guidance to apply even when income appears above a published limit.
- 2026 Medicare Part B premiums & deductibles (CMS) →
Part B premium ($202.90/mo) and deductibles used to estimate the dollar value of each tier.
- State Medicaid agencies →
Application links, phone numbers, locally-administered program names, and confirmation of which states have dropped the asset test.
How often this is updated
Federal figures are refreshed after HHS, SSA, and CMS publish annual standards. State rules are then reconciled with the current KFF survey and direct state publications. The 2026 eligibility dataset was last verified on August 2, 2026; each state page links to its policy source and, where available, direct state guidance.
Limitations
Our results are estimates. Your actual eligibility is determined by your state's Medicaid agency. States can apply additional earned-income, health-insurance-premium, household, and resource disregards that a short screening tool cannot fully model. If you are close to a limit—or have income from work—apply anyway. Your state makes the final determination at no cost. MSP Check is independent and not affiliated with Medicare, Medicaid, or any government agency.
Compiled and maintained by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder & Editor of MSP Check.