Medicaid is the federal health insurance program that covers people who have low-incomes and meet certain categories of eligibility. Medicaid eligibility varies by state.

The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act (ACA) created a new category of eligibility for the Medicaid program to include individuals who have incomes at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).  Due to the Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012), states have the option to expand their Medicaid programs.

This chart shows what each state is doing.

  • Expanded 41

  • AK5, AR4, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IA4, ID 11, IL, IN, KY, LA7, MA, MD, ME8, MI1, MN, MO14, MT6, NC16, ND, NE12, NH3, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK13, OR, PA2, RI, SD15, UT10, VA9, VT, WA, WV

  • Not Expanded 10

  • AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY

Updated: 11/22 (information changes frequently, please check for updates)

  1. MI expansion began 4/1/14
  2. PA expansion began 1/1/15
  3. NH expansion began 1/1/16
  4. IA and AR implemented expansion through premium assistance & wrap around Medicaid
  5. AK expansion began 9/1/15
  6. MT expansion began 1/1/2016
  7. LA Governor signed Executive Order for expansion that began 7/1/16
  8. ME Governor signed Executive Order for expansion that began on 1/10/2019 with coverage retroactive to 7/2/2018
  9. VA expansion began 1/1/19
  10. UT voters approved expansion; it began 1/1/2020
  11. ID voters approved expansion; it began 1/1/2020
  12. NE voters approved expansion; it began 10/1/2020
  13. OK voters approved expansion; it began 7/1/21
  14. MO voters approved expansion to start 10/1/21 with coverage retroactive to 7/1/2021
  15. SD voters approved a ballot measure 11/22. The Department of Social Services must submit its Medicaid expansion plan to the federal government by 3/1/23, and will begin providing benefits to newly eligible people by 7/1/23.
  16. NC expansion began 12/1/2023