Alabama Medicaid: Income Limits, Eligibility and How to Apply
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Medicaid in Alabama is run by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Alabama is one of ten states that have not adopted the Affordable Care Act expansion, which is the single most important fact about Medicaid here: adults without dependent children generally cannot qualify, whatever they earn. Children are covered through ALL Kids, and the application is at insurealabama.adph.state.al.us or 800-362-1504. Every figure below is dated 2026-09-23.
| Program | Alabama Medicaid |
|---|---|
| Children | ALL Kids |
| Agency | Alabama Medicaid Agency |
| Apply | insurealabama.adph.state.al.us · 800-362-1504 |
| Expansion | No |
Who qualifies in Alabama
Without the expansion, Alabama Medicaid covers the groups federal law has always required and the ones the state has chosen to add: children under 19 (through Alabama Medicaid and ALL Kids), pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives at low incomes set by the state, people 65 and over, and people with disabilities, the last two with an asset test. There is no door for an adult without dependent children who is neither disabled nor 65, no matter how low the income.
That gap has a floor and a ceiling. Marketplace plans with premium tax credits begin at 100% of the poverty guideline, $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for four in 2026, and at that level the premium for a benchmark plan is close to zero. Below it, in Alabama, an adult without children has neither Medicaid nor a subsidy. Health centers on a sliding fee and hospital financial assistance policies are the fallback; our emergency help page lists both.
| Household size | 100% of poverty, 2026 (marketplace subsidy floor) | 138% (what expansion would cover) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $53,378 |
How Alabama compares
Alabama is one of ten states without the expansion, with Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Because there is no expansion group, the 2027 work requirement and six-month renewals largely pass it by. Alabama uses the plain "Medicaid" name, so the card and letters say what they are.
How to apply for Alabama Medicaid
- Apply online at insurealabama.adph.state.al.us, or call 800-362-1504. HealthCare.gov also takes Medicaid applications and forwards them to Alabama. There is no enrollment period; any day works.
- Report this month's income.
A Alabama Medicaid case also qualifies you for a free phone (Alabama carriers, paperwork) and shares documents with Alabama SNAP.
What changes in Alabama
With no expansion group, the work requirement and six-month renewals in the 2025 law do not reach Alabama. The nationwide changes are on the hub with CMS sources.
Alabama specifics
- Alabama has not expanded; adults without dependent children generally cannot qualify regardless of income, and parents qualify only at very low incomes.
- ALL Kids, the state CHIP, is run by the Department of Public Health and shares the Insure Alabama application; its phone line is 888-373-5437.
- Offices serve Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and every county; hospitals and health centers also employ enrollment assisters.
Whether Alabama Medicaid pays for dental or weight-loss drugs is Alabama's choice; see does Medicaid cover.
Common questions
What is the Medicaid income limit in Alabama for 2026?
There is no single limit, because Alabama has not adopted the expansion. Children qualify through Alabama Medicaid and ALL Kids at incomes well above poverty, pregnant women at higher incomes still, and parents only at very low incomes set by the state. Adults without dependent children who are not disabled or over 65 generally cannot qualify at any income. Above the state's limits, marketplace plans with premium tax credits start at 100% of poverty, $15,960 a year for one person.
Does Alabama have a Medicaid work requirement?
No. The federal work requirement applies only to the expansion group, and Alabama has none.
Sources
- Alabama Medicaid: state program page
- HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines
- HealthCare.gov: Medicaid expansion and you (138%)
- Federal Register: community engagement interim final rule (June 3, 2026)
- CMS: 2025 law section-by-section overview
- KFF: status of state Medicaid expansion decisions (not an official source)
Gov-Grants.org is an independent guide, not a carrier and not a government agency. We never charge fees, and every fact above links to its source with the date we checked it. Program details change; confirm on the official site before applying.