Kentucky Medicaid Eligibility Calculator (2026)

KCHIP without a separate program

Regular Medicaid covers infants to 195% of the poverty line, children 1–5 to 142% and older children to 133%. Above those points KCHIP — paid for with CHIP funds but run as Medicaid — continues every age to 213%, so there is no second application and no requirement to be uninsured.^[MACPAC]

Pregnancy works in two layers too: Medicaid to 195%, then CHIP-funded pregnancy coverage to 213%.^[MACPAC]

Adults and parents

The parent/caretaker group by itself ends at 18% of the poverty line; since January 1, 2014 the expansion has covered parents and adults without children to 138%.^{[MACPAC][KFF]}

Postpartum

Kentucky’s extension to 12 months postpartum was approved May 25, 2022, so mothers covered under either the Medicaid pregnancy group or the CHIP-funded band to 213% keep coverage for a year.^{[KFF][MACPAC]}

kynect

Applications for Medicaid, KCHIP and private Marketplace plans all start at kynect, run by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; the Department for Medicaid Services administers the program. For older Kentuckians the medically needy spend-down level is about 18% of the poverty line.^[MACPAC]