Methodology & Data Sources
MSP Check is a calculator, not an opinion. Every income limit, asset limit, and dollar figure on this site comes from an official federal or state source, and every eligibility result is produced by the same disregard rules your state Medicaid agency uses. This page documents exactly how it works so you can check our math.
Data as of — 2026 income & asset limits: Jun 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 $20 general income disregard to unearned income first (such as Social Security), then any remainder to earned income.
- 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 (100% FPL), SLMB (120% FPL), and QI (135% FPL) limits — each set $20 above the raw FPL because of the general disregard.
- For Alaska we multiply all income limits by 1.25 and for Hawaii by 1.15, matching their separate federal poverty tables.
You can read the implementation in our open eligibility logic — the same constants and disregard order described above.
The asset test
In states that still apply an asset test, the 2026 limits are $9,950 (individual) and $14,910 (couple). Your primary home, one vehicle, household goods, and personal belongings are excluded. About a dozen states — California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Alabama — have eliminated the MSP asset test entirely, and we skip it for those states.
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.
- Medicare Savings Programs overview (CMS / Medicare.gov) →
Program definitions, income thresholds (100% / 120% / 135% FPL), and the $20 general income disregard.
- 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
Income and asset limits change once a year. We update them each January after HHS publishes new federal poverty guidelines and CMS publishes new Medicare costs, and we re-verify the state application links at the same time. The 2026 figures on this site were last verified in June 2026.
Limitations
Our results are estimates. Your actual eligibility is determined by your state's Medicaid agency, which may count income or assets slightly differently or apply additional state rules. If you are close to a limit, we recommend applying anyway — your state makes the final determination at no cost to you. 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.