Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Massachusetts. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
MassHealth (Medicaid) in Massachusetts
MassHealth is Massachusetts's Medicaid program.
People 65 and older living in the community may qualify with income up to the poverty level and savings up to $2,000 for one person, and MassHealth can pay health costs Medicare doesn't. If your income is over the limit, a MassHealth deductible (spend-down) may still let you qualify.
How to apply in Massachusetts
- Online
- mahix.org
- By phone
- 1-800-841-2900
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Massachusetts
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (from March 1, 2026) | $1,330 a month (100% of the poverty level) | $1,804 a month (100% of the poverty level) Source: MassHealth (source 1) |
| Savings limit (2026) | $2,000 | $3,000 Source: MassHealth (source 1) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | Yes: MassHealth has a deductible (spend-down) for people 65 and older whose income is over the limit Source: KFF (source 3) |
|---|---|
| Income limit for home-care waiver Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month (300% of the federal benefit rate) Source: MassHealth (source 1) |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | Yes: Massachusetts expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under 65 Source: KFF (source 4) |
How Massachusetts is different
Where Massachusetts's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Higher income limit: 100% of the poverty level
Source: MassHealth (source 1)
Good to know
- Nursing-home residents on MassHealth keep a personal needs allowance of $72.80 a month (2026).
Source: MassHealth (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Massachusetts
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Massachusetts
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- MassHealth, Program financial guidelines for certain MassHealth applicants and members (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- MassHealth, Get help paying Medicare costs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) in 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Was this page helpful?
Report an error on this page
Newsletter
Get an email when the rules change
Benefit figures, deadlines and rules change every year. We'll tell you what changed and what to check, about twice a month.
- Free, about twice a month
- One-click unsubscribe in every email
- We never sell or share your email