Connecticut’s HUSKY D program uses a single income cutoff set at 138% of the federal poverty level, and the dollar figure rises with the number of people in your household. As of March 1, 2026, a single adult qualifies with annual income under $22,025; a two-person household qualifies under $29,863; three people under $37,702; and four people under $45,540.1CT.gov. Connecticut HUSKY Health Program Annual Income Guidelines – March 1, 2026 HUSKY D is Connecticut’s Medicaid coverage for low-income adults aged 19 through 64 who do not have dependent children, and there is no monthly premium.
2026 HUSKY D Income Limits by Household Size
Connecticut updates these thresholds every March 1 to match the new federal poverty guidelines. The current annual limits, along with the rough monthly equivalent, are:1CT.gov. Connecticut HUSKY Health Program Annual Income Guidelines – March 1, 2026
- 1 person: under $22,025 per year (about $1,835 per month)
- 2 people: under $29,863 per year (about $2,489 per month)
- 3 people: under $37,702 per year (about $3,142 per month)
- 4 people: under $45,540 per year (about $3,795 per month)
Each figure represents 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level for that household size.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed The Affordable Care Act technically sets the Medicaid expansion threshold at 133% of poverty, but a built-in 5% income disregard raises the effective cutoff to 138%.3Medicaid.gov. MAGI Conversion – 5% Disregard You do not have to calculate the disregard yourself. If your income lands between 133% and 138% of poverty, the state applies it automatically and you still qualify.
How Connecticut Counts Your Income
The state uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI, to decide whether you fall under the limit. MAGI starts with the adjusted gross income figure from your federal tax return and is the same standard every Medicaid expansion program uses.
Income That Counts
MAGI includes most taxable income and some non-taxable income:4Medicaid.gov. Building MAGI Knowledge Part 2 – Income Counting
- Wages and salary (gross pay before taxes)
- Self-employment income (net profit after business expenses)
- Social Security benefits, including both taxable and non-taxable portions
- Unemployment benefits
- Retirement income such as pensions and IRA distributions
- Investment income: interest, dividends, capital gains, and rental profits
- Alimony from divorce agreements finalized before 2019
Income That Does Not Count
Several common income sources are excluded from MAGI entirely:4Medicaid.gov. Building MAGI Knowledge Part 2 – Income Counting
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Child support received
- Veterans benefits
- Workers’ compensation
- TANF and other government cash assistance
- Gifts, loans, and inheritances
The SSI exclusion matters most in practice. If you receive both Social Security retirement benefits and SSI, only the retirement benefits count toward the income limit.
No Asset or Savings Test
HUSKY D does not look at your bank accounts, home equity, vehicles, or other assets. Federal rules bar asset testing for any Medicaid category that uses the MAGI methodology.5Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy You could have $50,000 in savings and still qualify as long as your income sits below the limit.
How Household Size Is Determined
Your household size for MAGI is based on your federal tax return. If you file taxes, your household includes you, your spouse when filing jointly, and anyone you claim as a tax dependent. If you do not file taxes, the state looks at who you live with and who claims you. Getting this right matters, because a larger household size raises the income limit.
The Other Rules Behind the Income Test
Being under the income limit is necessary but not enough on its own. HUSKY D also requires that you:6CT.gov. How to Qualify – Section: HUSKY D
- Are 19 years old through your 65th birthday
- Live in Connecticut
- Have no dependent children (parents and caregivers apply through HUSKY A instead)
- Are a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant who has lived in the United States for at least five years
- Are not receiving Medicare
- Are not pregnant (pregnant individuals qualify for separate Medicaid coverage)
The dependent-children rule trips people up. If you are raising a child under 19 in your household, you generally belong in the HUSKY A category regardless of your income. HUSKY D is specifically for childless adults.
If Your Income Is Close to the Limit
A modest raise will not automatically end your coverage. Your income has to actually exceed the threshold for your household size before you lose eligibility, and the 5% disregard gives you some room between 133% and 138% of poverty.
If your income rises above the HUSKY D cutoff, you may qualify for subsidized private insurance through Access Health CT instead. Report income and household changes through your Access Health CT account or by phone as soon as they happen so the state can move you into the right coverage without a gap. Changes worth reporting include a raise or job loss, gaining or losing a household member, moving, becoming pregnant, or getting an offer of other health coverage.
Retroactive Coverage for Bills Before You Applied
If you had qualifying medical expenses during the three months before you applied, HUSKY D may cover them. Federal regulations allow up to three months of retroactive Medicaid eligibility as long as you would have qualified during that period and received Medicaid-covered services.7eCFR. 42 CFR 436.2 – Basis Flag this on your application if you have been putting off care because of cost.
Renewing Every 12 Months
Connecticut redetermines eligibility once a year.8Medicaid.gov. Implementation of Eligibility Redeterminations – Section 71107 The state first tries to confirm you still qualify using tax records and wage databases. When that works, your coverage renews automatically. When it does not, the Department of Social Services mails you a prepopulated renewal form and gives you at least 30 days to return it. Ignoring that form is the single most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage they still qualify for, so watch for mail from DSS and respond quickly.