Federal Poverty Level 2026: 200%, 300% and 400% in Dollars
Most patient assistance programs write their income limit as a percent of the federal poverty level. Here is what those percents come to in dollars for each household size, and how to read the limit on a program’s page.
By mendmeds · Published · 4 min read
The short version
- The 2026 federal poverty level is $15,960 a year for one person, plus $5,680 for each additional person, in the 48 contiguous states and DC.
- As of November 2026, 67 of the 109 manufacturer patient assistance programs mendmeds tracks state their income limit as a percent of the poverty level, most often 300%, 400% or 500%.
- A household of four at 300% of the poverty level can earn up to $99,000 a year; at 400%, $132,000.
- Each program sets its own percent and its own definition of income, so the limit on the drug’s page is the one that counts.
What the federal poverty level is
The federal poverty level (FPL) is a dollar figure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes every January. Officially it is called the poverty guidelines. Many programs use it as a yardstick for who qualifies, including most of the drug-maker assistance programs we track.
For 2026, the guideline for the 48 contiguous states and DC is $15,960 for one person, plus $5,680 for each additional person in the household. Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher guidelines, so if you live in either state the table below understates the dollar figure for the same percent.
The 2026 numbers by household size
A program that says “up to 300% of the poverty level” means your household income can be up to three times the figure for your household size. These are the amounts at the percents programs use most:
| Household size | 100% | 200% | 300% | 400% | 500% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $31,920 | $47,880 | $63,840 | $79,800 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $43,280 | $64,920 | $86,560 | $108,200 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $54,640 | $81,960 | $109,280 | $136,600 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $66,000 | $99,000 | $132,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $77,360 | $116,040 | $154,720 | $193,400 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $88,720 | $133,080 | $177,440 | $221,800 |
For a household larger than 6, add $5,680 per person to the 100% figure, then multiply by the percent.
How patient assistance programs use it
As of November 2026, 67 of the 109 manufacturer patient assistance programs we track state their income limit as a percent of the poverty level. The limit is 300% for 27 programs, 400% for 19 and 500% for 13; the other 8 use 200%, 250% or 600%.
Another 19 set a flat dollar limit instead. For the remaining 23 we have not recorded an income limit, so the program’s own page is where to check.
Worked example. A household of four has a poverty level of $33,000. At 300% that is $99,000 a year, at 400% it is $132,000, and at 500% it is $165,000.
Those limits sit well above the poverty line itself, so a household does not need to be near it to qualify. They also differ a lot from drug to drug, which is why two medications for the same condition can have very different answers.
What counts as income
Programs do not all word this the same way. One program we track caps “total household income as reported to the IRS,” others just say annual household income, and some ask for your latest tax return as proof. Read how the application defines income before you compare yourself to a limit.
Household size matters just as much, because a larger household raises the limit. Check who the application counts as part of your household, and use that number, not the number of people who live under your roof.
If you are a little over the limit
Being over one program’s limit does not close every door. Programs set very different limits, from 200% for some drugs to 500% or more for others, and some drugs have a second program, such as a foundation, with different rules. Check the other programs on your drug’s page.
It is also worth asking the program whether it will look at more recent income if yours has dropped since the tax year it asked about. If nothing fits, how to afford a medication without insurance covers the other routes, and how patient assistance programs work explains what each program asks for.
Common questions
What is 300% of the federal poverty level in 2026?
For one person it is $47,880 a year, and for a family of four it is $99,000. The figure is three times the HHS poverty guideline for your household size in the 48 contiguous states and DC.
Is the federal poverty level different in Alaska and Hawaii?
Yes. HHS publishes higher guidelines for both states. Some programs use them and some do not, so confirm with the program if you live in either one.
When does the federal poverty level change?
HHS publishes new guidelines every January, so a limit written as a percent usually rises a little each year without the program changing its rules.
Do I need to be uninsured to use a program with a poverty-level limit?
No. Income is one test and insurance is another, and each program lists both. How patient assistance programs work explains how they fit together.
Want the numbers for your own prescription? Pick your drug and see which programs it offers, what each one requires, and the source we checked.
Sources
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This article is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Program rules change, so check the program’s own page before you apply.