Medicaid eligibility in Texas — income limits for 2025
The number
Texas Medicaid covers pregnant women up to 198% of the federal poverty line — $51,120 annual income for a family of three in 2025.
Income limits in dollars (2025)
| Category | % FPL | Household of 1 | Household of 3 | Household of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnant women | 198% | $29,820 | $51,120 | $61,780 |
| Children 0-5 | 203% | $30,570 | $52,410 | $63,340 |
| Children 6-18 | 138% | $20,780 | $35,630 | $43,060 |
| Parents / caretakers | 15% | $2,260 | $3,870 | $4,680 |
Who qualifies and how the income limits work
Texas Medicaid uses modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) rules to test eligibility. For 2025, the thresholds for a three-person household are: pregnant women up to 198% of the federal poverty line ($51,120), children 0-5 up to 203% ($52,410), children 6-18 up to 138% ($35,630), and parents / caretaker relatives with dependents up to 15% ($3,870).
Texas has not adopted Medicaid expansion. Adults 19-64 without dependent children have no path to Medicaid no matter how low their income. Parents earning above 15% FPL ($3,870 for a three-person household) and below 100% FPL fall into the coverage gap — too much for Medicaid, too little for ACA marketplace subsidies. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates non-expansion states account for nearly all of the 1.5 million Americans in that gap.
Citizenship / immigration status: US citizens and most lawfully present immigrants (with a 5-year waiting period for most categories under PRWORA) qualify if they meet the income test. Pregnant women and children may qualify in narrower circumstances under the CHIPRA 2009 state option. Assets test: no assets / resources test for MAGI-category applicants; a test applies for long-term care and non-MAGI applicants.
Texas has the lowest parent-income Medicaid cap in the country: 15% of the federal poverty line — roughly $3,900 annual income for a family of three. Texas finally extended postpartum coverage to 12 months in March 2024 under HB 12 (2023), after CMS repeatedly denied earlier waiver requests. An estimated 1.5 million Texans remain in the coverage gap.
For Black families
Because Texas has not expanded Medicaid, Black parents earning between the state's parent ceiling and 100% FPL fall into the coverage gap. KFF estimates Black residents make up a disproportionate share of that gap in every non-expansion state. Texas has the lowest parent-income Medicaid cap in the country: 15% of the federal poverty line — roughly $3,900 annual income for a family of three. Texas finally extended postpartum coverage to 12 months in March 2024 under HB 12 (2023), after CMS repeatedly denied earlier waiver requests. An estimated 1.5 million Texans remain in the coverage gap.
Where to get help in Texas
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in Texas: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/tx/.
- Medicaid-accepting providers in Texas: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/tx/.
- State health profile for Texas: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/texas/.
- Texas Medicaid consumer help line: 1-800-252-8263 for application help, renewal questions, and general Medicaid inquiries. Ask for an interpreter if you need one; language access is required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
References & primary sources
- Texas Medicaid, state Medicaid portal: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip.
- KFF State Health Facts: kff.org/statedata. Medicaid income eligibility + enrollment.
- Medicaid.gov: medicaid.gov. Federal program guidance + state plan amendments.
- HHS 2025 Poverty Guidelines (Federal Register Jan 2025): aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines.
Data refreshed: