CHIP income limits for 2027 are not official yet. The Department of Health and Human Services will not publish the 2027 federal poverty guidelines until mid-January 2027, and states typically update their CHIP eligibility tables a few weeks to a few months after that. Based on the pattern of recent annual increases, families can expect the 2027 federal poverty level (FPL) to rise by roughly 2% to 3% over 2026 levels, which would push CHIP income ceilings up by a similar amount in dollar terms, even though the percentage of FPL that each state uses to set eligibility typically stays flat year to year.
This article walks through how CHIP income limits are actually calculated, what the 2026 numbers look like today, how to project 2027 limits using the same math HHS uses, and what is likely to change or stay the same heading into next year.
How CHIP Income Limits Actually Work
CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, does not have one national income limit. Each state sets its own ceiling, expressed as a percentage of the federal poverty level, and that ceiling applies to combined Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children under 19. States can structure their programs as a Medicaid expansion, a separate CHIP program, or a combination of both.
The dollar amount that corresponds to a state's percentage changes every year because the underlying FPL changes every year. The percentage itself (for example, "218% of FPL" in a given state) usually does not change unless the state legislature or state Medicaid agency makes a policy change. So projecting 2027 CHIP income limits really means projecting the 2027 FPL, then applying each state's existing percentage to that new number.
Current 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines (the baseline for 2027 math)
HHS published the 2026 poverty guidelines in January 2026, reflecting a 2.63% increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers between 2024 and 2025. Because of the federal government shutdown in October 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish CPI-U data for that month, so HHS calculated the 2026 update using 11 months of 2025 data compared against all 12 months of 2024.
| Household Size | 2026 FPL (100%, 48 states + DC) |
|---|
| 1 | $15,960 |
| 2 | $21,640 |
| 3 | $27,320 |
| 4 | $33,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 |
| 6 | $44,360 |
| 7 | $50,040 |
| 8 | $55,720 |
Each additional person above 8 adds $5,680. These figures apply to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher guidelines because of their higher cost of living.
Projected 2027 Federal Poverty Guidelines
Using the same CPI-U methodology HHS applies every January, and assuming a typical annual increase in the 2% to 3% range (consistent with the last several years), here is a reasonable projection for 2027. Treat these as estimates only. The actual 2027 numbers will not be confirmed until HHS publishes them.
| Household Size | Projected 2027 FPL (approximate, 2.5% increase) |
|---|
| 1 | approximately $16,360 |
| 2 | approximately $22,180 |
| 3 | approximately $28,000 |
| 4 | approximately $33,830 |
| 5 | approximately $39,650 |
| 6 | approximately $45,470 |
| 7 | approximately $51,290 |
| 8 | approximately $57,110 |
If inflation runs hotter than expected, these figures could land a few hundred dollars higher per household size. If inflation cools, they could land slightly lower. The actual increase has ranged from about 1.1% to 6.2% over the last decade, with most recent years falling in the 2% to 3.5% band.
How CHIP Dollar Limits Translate at the State Level
Because CHIP eligibility is set as a percentage of FPL, the projected dollar limits vary widely depending on which state a family lives in. Below are current 2026 upper income limits for children's coverage (combining Medicaid expansion and separate CHIP programs) in several populous states, based on data compiled by KFF. These percentages are expected to carry over into 2027 unless a state changes its policy.
| State | Upper Eligibility Limit (% of FPL) | 2026 Annual Limit, Family of 3 | Projected 2027 Annual Limit, Family of 3 |
|---|
| New York | 405% | approximately $110,646 | approximately $113,400 |
| Pennsylvania | 319% | approximately $87,131 | approximately $89,320 |
| Illinois | 318% | approximately $86,878 | approximately $89,060 |
| California | 266% | approximately $72,671 | approximately $74,480 |
| Georgia | 252% | approximately $68,846 | approximately $70,560 |
| North Carolina | 216% | approximately $59,011 | approximately $60,480 |
| Florida | 215% | approximately $58,738 | approximately $60,200 |
| Michigan | 217% | approximately $59,284 | approximately $60,760 |
| Texas | 206% | approximately $56,279 | approximately $57,680 |
| Ohio | 211% | approximately $57,645 | approximately $59,080 |
Most states set their CHIP ceiling somewhere between 200% and 317% of FPL for a typical family, with a small number of states, including New York, extending coverage as high as 400% or more. The federal minimum a state can set is 200% of FPL, so no state can require families to earn less than that to qualify children for coverage.
Why the Percentage Rarely Changes Year to Year
State legislatures set the FPL percentage used for CHIP eligibility through statute or state plan amendments approved by CMS. Changing that percentage requires a formal state policy change, which is far less frequent than the automatic annual FPL update. In practice, this means:
- The percentage of FPL a state uses (for example, Pennsylvania's 319%) tends to stay the same for years at a time.
- The dollar amount tied to that percentage rises every January because the underlying FPL rises.
- Families near the income cutoff should recheck eligibility every year, even if their own income hasn't changed, because the ceiling moves up slightly each year.
CHIP Funding Status Through 2027 and What Comes After
CHIP funding is currently secured through the end of federal fiscal year 2027 (which runs through September 30, 2027). This funding was locked in through a combination of a January 2018 continuing resolution and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which together extended CHIP appropriations a full decade, from FY2018 through FY2027.
That means Congress will need to act again before October 1, 2027, to reauthorize CHIP funding for FY2028 and beyond. This has historically been a bipartisan action, and CHIP has never lapsed nationally since its creation in 1997, but it is worth watching because a funding gap would directly affect eligibility processing and program continuity in every state.
Steps to Check Your State's Actual 2027 CHIP Limits When They Publish
- Watch for the HHS poverty guidelines release, typically published in the Federal Register in mid-January of each year.
- Check your state Medicaid or CHIP agency's website for its updated income chart, usually posted within a few weeks to a couple of months after the federal release.
- Compare your household's gross monthly or annual income against the new limit for your household size.
- If you are near the cutoff, apply anyway. States are required to make an eligibility determination based on your actual circumstances, and some deductions can lower your countable income below the gross limit.
- Reapply or renew during your state's redetermination period, since CHIP and Medicaid coverage for children typically requires annual renewal.
What Might Actually Change for 2027
A few things to watch heading into 2027 that could affect income limits beyond the routine inflation adjustment:
- State budget actions. A handful of states periodically revisit their CHIP income thresholds during budget cycles, particularly in years with tight state budgets.
- Federal policy changes. Congress occasionally adjusts CHIP matching rates or eligibility rules as part of broader health legislation, which can indirectly affect how generous a state's program is.
- The FY2028 reauthorization debate. As the FY2027 funding period nears its end, expect increased legislative attention to CHIP, which could bring changes to enhanced federal matching rates or eligibility rules as part of any reauthorization package.
None of these are guaranteed, and the most likely scenario is that 2027 CHIP income limits simply reflect the routine FPL increase applied to each state's existing percentage, the same pattern seen every year for the past decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will official 2027 CHIP income limits be published?
HHS typically publishes the annual federal poverty guidelines in mid-January. States then update their CHIP income charts within a few weeks to a couple of months afterward. Official 2027 numbers will not be available until January 2027 at the earliest.
How much will the 2027 FPL increase compared to 2026?
Based on recent history, a 2% to 3% increase over 2026 levels is a reasonable estimate, though the actual figure depends on Consumer Price Index data collected through most of 2026. The 2026 update reflected a 2.63% increase.
Does every state use the same CHIP income limit?
No. Each state sets its own income ceiling as a percentage of the federal poverty level, ranging from the federal minimum of 200% of FPL up to 400% or higher in a small number of states like New York.
Will my state's CHIP percentage of FPL change for 2027?
Most states keep their FPL percentage the same year over year and only adjust the dollar figure when the federal poverty level updates. Changes to the percentage itself require a state policy change and are far less common.
Is CHIP funding guaranteed to continue past 2027?
CHIP funding is currently authorized through the end of federal fiscal year 2027. Congress will need to pass new legislation to continue funding into FY2028 and beyond. CHIP has been reauthorized every time it has come up for renewal since 1997, but families should watch for legislative updates as the deadline approaches.
Should I apply for CHIP now or wait for 2027 numbers?
Apply now if your household income is currently under your state's limit. CHIP and Medicaid coverage for children is available year-round, and there is no reason to wait for a new FPL update if your child qualifies under the current guidelines.
What if my income is slightly above the 2026 limit?
You may still qualify once the 2027 FPL increase takes effect, since the dollar ceiling rises even though your income may have stayed flat. It is also worth applying now, since some states allow deductions that reduce your countable income below the gross limit.
