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Utah Medicaid Requirements

Medicaid is the federal government's program to provide a health insurance program for low-income children and pregnant women. It is funded at both the federal and state levels, and base requirements are set by the national government, although each state can open up enrollment more broadly if the legislature chooses. Utah's administration of the program is similar to how other states handle it.

  1. Family Medicaid Programs

    • There are two programs that operate slightly differently, based on the amount of income brought in by a family. Family Medicaid covers low-income families with children, including those who live with a relative, such as grandparents. Regular Family Medicaid covers families who don't qualify for Family Medicaid because of income or for other reasons.

      For both programs, the monthly income cannot be more than what is allowed by the family size, according to the Department of Workforce Services, and children must lack one parent's support because of death, absence, inability to work or because the family's primary wage earner is unemployed or working less than 100 hours a month.

    Income Requirements

    • For most of the various Medicaid programs, participants must be between 55 percent and 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. According to Housing Works, the federal poverty level is $14,570 for a family of two, $18,310 for a family of three and $22,050 for a family of four. Considering only income, a family of four would qualify for Medicaid if the wage earners bring in $12,127.50 to $29,326.50 annually.

      Income requirements also depend on the program in which a family participates. There are medically needy programs for families who have children or family members with serious health conditions and, while the family makes too much to qualify for the typical Medicaid programs, can pay for Medicaid coverage for those certain individuals.

    Asset Requirements

    • The typical asset limit is $2,000 for one person, $3,000 for two people and an additional $25 for every other person in the family. This looks at investments, houses, cars, businesses and other assets as well as savings accounts.

      The amount of assets a person or family has can change, and they may qualify one week and not the next depending on an extra payday in one month or for other reasons. So those on Medicaid need to pay strict attention to how much they own at one time.

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