Federal law requires states to cover certain “mandatory” population groups in order to receive matching Medicaid funds. Beyond these minimum mandatory levels for children, parents, pregnant women, and the elderly and disabled, states cover additional “optional” groups, but eligibility above the federal minimum levels varies widely by state. Total Medicaid enrollment in FY 2007, was 58 million including 9 million disabled and 6 million elderly low-income individuals (Tables 5 & 6).
- States in the South and Midwest are more likely to have lower eligibility levels for children and adults. However, these states have higher Medicaid enrollment due to higher poverty rates in this region.
- Most states set children’s eligibility levels at 200% FPL or higher. However, four states (Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota and Oklahoma) have income eligibility levels below 200% FPL.
- Parent eligibility levels are substantially lower than those for children. The national median eligibility level for working parents is 64% FPL and eligibility ranges from 17% FPL in Arkansas to 215% FPL in Minnesota.
- Federal law prohibits Medicaid and CHIP coverage of adults without dependent children at any income level without a federal waiver. Only a handful of states have opted to provide comprehensive coverage for childless adults via a Medicaid waiver or state-only funds. Seventeen additional states provide some childless adults with more limited benefit packages.
- States in the West have a lower share of elderly and disabled enrollees compared to the Northeast and Midwest. The share of elderly enrollees in Medicaid varies from 5% in Utah to 16% in Maine. The variation among the share of disabled enrollees is even greater ranging from 9% in California to 30% in Massachusetts.
View related interactive table on statehealthfacts.org
