Data as of January 2009.
This table takes earnings disregards, when applicable, into account when determining income thresholds for working parents. Computations are based on a family of three with one income earner. In some cases, earnings disregards may be time limited. States may use additional disregards in determining eligibility. In some states, the income eligibility guidelines vary by region. In this situation, the income guideline in the most populous region is used. Time limited disregards: In some states, the earnings disregards used to determine eligibility are applied only for the first few months of coverage. Thus, the eligibility limits for most beneficiaries would be lower than the levels that appear in this table.
Eligibility levels shown as percent of the FPL. Currency figures based on FPL for a family of three in 2008: $17,600 for 48 contiguous states and District of Columbia, $22,000 for Alaska, $20,240 for Hawaii.

Challenges of Providing Health Coverage for Children and Parents in a Recession: A 50 State Update on Eligibility Rules, Enrollment and Renewal Procedures, and Cost-Sharing Practices in Medicaid and SCHIP in 2009. Data based on a national survey conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 2009. Available at http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7855.cfm.

The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) was established to help government agencies determine eligibility levels for public assistance programs such as Medicaid. FPL is represented in this resource as poverty guidelines as opposed to the slightly different poverty thresholds.

1. With the exceptions of Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, these states offer eligibility at higher thresholds, reflecting coverage established through Medicaid waivers which generally provide fewer benefits and have higher cost-sharing than allowed in "regular" Medicaid. Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington offer coverage to parents under a state-funded program. For all income thresholds see Table 3 in source.
2. Delaware has expanded coverage to parents through a waiver that offers a benefit package identical to the state's traditional Medicaid benefits package with the exception of dental and vision benefits.
3. In Hawaii, parents enrolled in Medicaid whose income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty line can purchase alternative coverage by paying a monthly premium. This coverage has an income eligibility limit of 300 percent of the federal poverty line.
4. Maryland expanded coverage for parents to 116 percent of the federal poverty line in July 2008.
5. New Jersey expanded coverage for parents to 200 percent of the federal poverty line in September 2008.
6. The state was not enrolling eligible parents at any time between July 2007 and January 2009.
7. Rhode Island reduced coverage for parents to 175 percent of the federal poverty line in October 2008.
8. Since 2002, Texas has been in the process of transitioning to a new computer system to process applications. The earnings disregard under the new system is slightly more generous than that under the old system. The policy reflected in the table is that applied under the new system because the state intends for all applicants and recipients eventually to be processed under this system. However, the great majority of those parents currently enrolled in Texas' Medicaid program are evaluated under the old system in which the income threshold for a working parent is $308 per month rather than $402 per month.
9. Wisconsin expanded coverage for parents to 200 percent of the federal poverty line in February 2008.
10. In Wyoming, the earnings disregard is based on marital status and whether one or both parents are employed. The figures in this table represent the income thresholds for families with unmarried parents with one income earner.