Medicaid or a Marketplace plan? How it works in our 8 states

Whether a lower-income adult qualifies for Medicaid or for a subsidized Marketplace plan depends a lot on the state they live in. One Marketplace application checks both, so you do not need to guess before applying.

States that expanded Medicaid

• Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina have expanded Medicaid. Adults with income up to about 138% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan.

States that have not expanded Medicaid

• Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas have not expanded Medicaid. Most adults without children look at Marketplace plans.
• Adults with income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level in these states can fall into a coverage gap, earning too little for premium tax credits. Georgia runs a limited program, Georgia Pathways, that has work and activity requirements.

Where you apply

• HealthCare.gov: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas
• Georgia Access: Georgia’s own state exchange
• Get Covered Illinois: Illinois’ own state exchange

Medicaid rules and state exchanges change. Confirm the current rules for your state before you decide.