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Home > Glossary > federal poverty level

federal poverty level

What is the FPL?

federal poverty level infographic

What is the federal poverty level?

To be eligible for Medicaid (as a full dual-eligible beneficiary, or for partial assistance with things like Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs) or Extra Help financial assistance, a Medicare beneficiary must have income that doesn’t exceed certain percentages of the federal poverty level (FPL).1

Eligibility varies depending on the program, with more assistance available to people with lower incomes. Asset tests are also used in most states when the applicant is 65 or older, meaning that the person must have limited assets in addition to a fairly low income in order to qualify for assistance through the Medicaid program.2 (As opposed to Medicaid for children, pregnant women, and adults under age 65, which is based on income alone, as a percentage of the federal poverty level, regardless of assets.)3

The FPL, which changes annually and is published in January each year by HHS, is $15,650 for a single person in 2025. This number is used to calculate eligibility limits for the various Medicaid programs. The specific percentage of FPL that’s used differs from one program to another.

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How Medicaid supports 1 in 5 Medicare enrollees

How Medicaid supports 1 in 5 Medicare enrollees

In 2016, an estimated 11.7 million Medicare beneficiaries – about 20 percent of all enrollees – were also enrolled in Medicaid and are known as dual-eligible beneficiaries or dual-eligibles. And while you might not hear that term often – or at all – it's worth your time to understand what it means to have both Medicare and Medicaid (especially if you or a loved one is part of the "Medicare-Medicaid" population).

Extra Help program

Extra Help program

Individuals with limited income and resources and who have difficulty making their Medicare premium payments are, in some cases, eligible for financial assistance through the Extra Help program.

How Medicaid supports 1 in 5 Medicare enrollees

How Medicaid supports 1 in 5 Medicare enrollees

In 2016, an estimated 11.7 million Medicare beneficiaries – about 20 percent of all enrollees – were also enrolled in Medicaid and are known as dual-eligible beneficiaries or dual-eligibles. And while you might not hear that term often – or at all – it's worth your time to understand what it means to have both Medicare and Medicaid (especially if you or a loved one is part of the "Medicare-Medicaid" population).

Extra Help program

Extra Help program

Individuals with limited income and resources and who have difficulty making their Medicare premium payments are, in some cases, eligible for financial assistance through the Extra Help program.

Footnotes

  1. ”Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits – 2025” NOLO. Jan. 27, 2025 ⤶
  2. ”Medicaid Asset Limits By State: Eligibility Guidelines” Choice Mutual. June 1, 2024 ⤶
  3. ”Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Policies for Seniors and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) During the Unwinding” KFF.org. June 20, 2024 ⤶