Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania Medicaid)
Last updated August 2026
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid. Medical Assistance covers adults 19 to 64 on income alone: up to $22,025 a year for one person, $45,540 for a family of four. No resource limit for most adults, and enrollment runs all year. Apply at COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-550-4355, at your county assistance office, or by mail.
One application does triple duty. Not eligible for Medical Assistance? The kids are checked for CHIP automatically. Your file can also go to Pennie, PA's insurance marketplace, for discounted private coverage. Nobody falls in the gap between programs.
Working with a disability? MAWD is the door most people miss. It covers workers 16 to 64 with a disability, income under 250 percent of poverty, and up to $10,000 in savings, for a monthly premium (vouchers come by mail). Ask for it by name in the COMPASS comments or on the phone.
Coverage comes through a HealthChoices managed care plan, and DHS places you in the most complete benefit package you qualify for. Pregnant women and children have their own higher income paths, and emergency-only coverage exists regardless of immigration status.
The pink envelope is the thing to remember. Renewals are individual, and about 90 days before your date, DHS starts mailing, ending with a large pink envelope. Answer it by COMPASS, phone, mail, or the myCOMPASS PA app. Miss it and coverage ends, but a 90-day reconsideration window reopens it without a gap. Appeals get 30 days from any notice.
Phone 1-866-550-4355
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Adults 19-64 with income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; pregnant people qualify on higher limits
- Children, seniors, and people with disabilities have their own rules; one COMPASS application checks them
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at compass.dhs.pa.gov, call 1-866-550-4355, visit your county assistance office, or mail a paper application. Any day of the year.
- 2
Have income info and household details for everyone applying. Most adults face no resource test.
- 3
Working with a disability? Ask for MAWD by name: coverage to 250 percent of poverty with a small premium.
- 4
If denied, do nothing extra: kids route to CHIP automatically and your file can go to Pennie for marketplace savings.
- 5
Track your application at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.
- 6
When the big pink envelope arrives at renewal time, answer it by the due date, or use the 90-day reconsideration window if you miss.
- 7
Disagree with a decision? Appeal at your county assistance office within 30 days.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What is the income limit for PA Medical Assistance?
For adults 19 to 64: $22,025 a year for one person, $29,864 for two, $37,702 for three, $45,540 for four (2026 figures). Kids and pregnant women qualify at higher incomes.
Does PA Medicaid cost anything?
Applying is free, and standard Medical Assistance is designed for people who cannot afford coverage. MAWD, the workers-with-disabilities option, does charge a monthly premium, with vouchers mailed to you.
What is MAWD?
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities: full coverage for employed people 16 to 64 with a disability, income under 250 percent of poverty, and $10,000 or less in countable resources. Ask for it by name when applying.
What is the pink envelope?
Your renewal packet. DHS mails it about 90 days before your individual renewal date. Answer by COMPASS, phone, mail, or the myCOMPASS PA app, or coverage ends; a 90-day reconsideration window can restore it.
What if I earn too much for Medical Assistance?
The same application automatically checks kids for CHIP and can send your information to Pennie, PA's marketplace, for subsidized private plans. You will not need to start over.
How do I appeal a decision?
Request a fair hearing at your county assistance office within 30 days of the notice mailing date. You can ask for an agency conference first.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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