Medicaid and CHIP reliance by state: 2026 study

Medicaid and CHIP reliance by state: 2026 study

With some Medicaid funds to Minnesota currently halted due to fraud investigations led by Vice President JD Vance and the White House, many individuals may be wondering if their benefits could be at stake next. Statistics show that up to 33% of the population in each state, including children, may be receiving Medicaid or CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) benefits as of October 2025. Even the most independent states from the Medicaid program are shown to have about 10% of their population enrolled in these benefits.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked the U.S. states based on the percentage of the population enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, based on comparing October 2025 enrollment statistics to the latest population figures.

Key Findings

* California and New York are the most dependent on Medicaid. Based on October 2025 figures and the latest Census Bureau population estimates, California is most dependent on Medicaid, with 33.1% of the population enrolled. New York follows with 32.7% enrollment. On average, 21.7% of a state's population is enrolled.

* These states have the lowest rates of Medicaid enrollment. Only 9.5% of Utah's residents are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, the lowest rate nationwide. Wyoming (10.2%), New Hampshire (12.7%), North Dakota (13.2%), and Texas (13.3%) are also among the least dependent states.

* In Minnesota, 20.3% of the population is reportedly enrolled in Medicaid. Minnesota ranks 29th overall for the estimated rate of Medicaid participation, with 1,176,120 total beneficiaries as of October 2025. Managed care plans account for 83.3% of enrollees, and the average call center wait time for Medicaid services is just five minutes.

* Expect over an hour of Medicaid call center wait times in these states. Sorting out your Medicaid questions takes the longest in Nevada, where wait times average 71 minutes for the 22.7% of the population that is enrolled. In Idaho, those wait times also top out over an hour, with an average of 61 minutes, with 15.6% of the population is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

* About 3 in 4 Medicaid recipients use managed care plans. Across the states, the average managed care plan enrollment sits at 77.3%, with the remaining enrollees using Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans. On the extreme ends, Vermont, Hawai'i, and Nebraska have virtually full enrollment in managed care plans, while Idaho and Arkansas maintain roughly 95% of enrollees in an FFS plan.

Medicaid and CHIP Reliance by State

States are ranked based on the percentage of the population enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP programs as of October 2025.

SmartAsset

Medicaid and CHIP enrollment by State

States are ranked based on the percentage of the population enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP programs as of October 2025.

1. California

* Percent of population enrolled: 33.13%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 13065328

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 96.0%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 5

2. New York

* Percent of population enrolled: 32.74%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 6504286

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 68.2%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

3. New Mexico

* Percent of population enrolled: 32.27%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 687427

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 81.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 6

4. Louisiana

* Percent of population enrolled: 30.91%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1421099

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 83.7%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 3

5. Oregon

* Percent of population enrolled: 30.52%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1303752

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 97.7%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 12

6. Kentucky

* Percent of population enrolled: 29.38%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1347898

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 89.9%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

7. Alaska

* Percent of population enrolled: 28.62%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 211854

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minute: 19

8. West Virginia

* Percent of population enrolled: 28.12%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 497764

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 76.4%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 4

9. Rhode Island

* Percent of population enrolled: 27.28%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 303480

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 84.1%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 11

10. Hawai'i

* Percent of population enrolled: 26.96%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 389941

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 100.0%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 42

11. Arkansas

* Percent of population enrolled: 26.17%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 808325

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 5.3%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 8

12. North Carolina

* Percent of population enrolled: 25.94%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 2865323

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 79.1%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

13. Connecticut

* Percent of population enrolled: 24.81%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 911816

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minute: 19

14. Maine

* Percent of population enrolled: 24.18%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 339689

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minute: 10

15. Oklahoma

* Percent of population enrolled: 24.15%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 989060

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 54.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 31

16. Illinois

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.93%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 3041306

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 75.6%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 17

17. Vermont

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.48%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 152275

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 100.0%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 2

18. Ohio

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.30%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 2768467

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 90.1%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 3

19. Indiana

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.08%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1598204

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 81.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 5

20. Delaware

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.08%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 242745

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 84.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 2

21. Pennsylvania

* Percent of population enrolled: 23.03%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 3012566

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 92.3%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 11

22. Nevada

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.71%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 742058

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 74.4%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 71

23. Arizona

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.69%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1720153

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 78.7%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 5

24. Michigan

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.58%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 2289229

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 97.8%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

25. Washington

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.47%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1787864

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 84.0%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

26. Maryland

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.43%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1404754

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 94.5%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 2

27. Massachusetts

* Percent of population enrolled: 22.36%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1595952

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 45.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 2

28. Iowa

* Percent of population enrolled: 20.57%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 666800

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 92.9%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

29. Minnesota

* Percent of population enrolled: 20.30%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1176120

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 83.3%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 5

30. Mississippi

* Percent of population enrolled: 20.07%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 590816

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 74.2%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

31. Missouri

* Percent of population enrolled: 20.07%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1253398

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 83.6%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 13

32. Colorado

* Percent of population enrolled: 19.99%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1191047

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 6

33. Tennessee

* Percent of population enrolled: 19.64%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1419653

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

34. Virginia

* Percent of population enrolled: 19.14%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1686896

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 92.6%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

35. Wisconsin

* Percent of population enrolled: 18.87%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1124746

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 66.9%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 5

36. Montana

* Percent of population enrolled: 18.55%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 210942

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 20

37. New Jersey

* Percent of population enrolled: 18.38%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1745800

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 91.4%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 4

38. Alabama

* Percent of population enrolled: 18.23%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 940264

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

39. South Carolina

* Percent of population enrolled: 18.15%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 994159

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 60.0%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

40. Georgia

* Percent of population enrolled: 16.74%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 1872027

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 68.9%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 35

41. Nebraska

* Percent of population enrolled: 16.63%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 333543

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 99.7%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 6

42. Idaho

* Percent of population enrolled: 15.63%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 312807

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 6.4%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 61

43. Florida

* Percent of population enrolled: 15.61%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 3648091

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 69.9%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 22

44. South Dakota

* Percent of population enrolled: 14.81%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 136919

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

45. Kansas

* Percent of population enrolled: 13.52%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 401600

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 79.1%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 0

46. Texas

* Percent of population enrolled: 13.26%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 4148608

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 92.8%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

47. North Dakota

* Percent of population enrolled: 13.24%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 105481

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 23.2%

* Average call center wait time, minute: 10

48. New Hampshire

* Percent of population enrolled: 12.65%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 178189

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 91.1%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 4

49. Wyoming

* Percent of population enrolled: 10.16%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 59714

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): NA

* Average call center wait time, minute: 1

50. Utah

* Percent of population enrolled: 9.49%

* Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment: 332621

* Managed care enrollment (vs. FFS): 78.6%

* Average call center wait time, minutes: 9

Data and Methodology

Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data for October 2025 comes from Open Data from Medicaid.gov. Rates of Medicaid enrollment in each state is determined by comparing these figures to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates, from the one-year American Community Survey for 2024. Other metrics like managed care plan enrollment versus fee-for-service (FFS) enrollment and call center wait times are also reported.

This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.