Turquoise Care Medicaid for a Child Living with a Grandparent in New Mexico

A grandchild living with you in New Mexico may qualify for full health coverage through Turquoise Care — the state's Medicaid managed care program. If the child is in a non-filer household, your income may not factor into the eligibility decision. The income rules for children's Medicaid are broad, and the household calculation for non-parent caregivers can be favorable.

How Income Is Calculated When You Are Not the Parent

Under MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rules, when a child lives with a non-parent relative who does not claim the child as a tax dependent, the child's Medicaid household consists only of the child and any co-resident biological or adoptive siblings. The grandparent's income, retirement benefits, and assets are excluded entirely.

If you claim the grandchild as a tax dependent, tax-filer household rules may include your income unless an exception applies. Not claiming the child does not by itself guarantee eligibility. Tax and Medicaid rules are separate, so review both before making a tax decision.

Income Thresholds Are High

Even when a child's own income is counted, the ceilings are generous:

• Children under 6: up to 305% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly $66,000 per year for a two-person household)
• Children 6 through 18: up to 245% FPL (roughly $53,000 per year)
• Children in CYFD custody or with a Title IV-E GAP agreement: automatically eligible regardless of income under Category 060/061

Children in kinship care with minimal or zero personal income may fit within these income thresholds, but ISD determines eligibility based on the full application.

What Turquoise Care Covers

Turquoise Care delivers benefits through managed care organizations — Presbyterian Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. The child gets comprehensive coverage: primary pediatric care, dental, vision, prescription drugs, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, early intervention developmental care, and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to appointments.

Children enrolled receive 12 months of continuous eligibility. Even if household circumstances change mid-year, coverage does not drop until the next annual redetermination.

WIC for Children Under Five

If you are raising a grandchild under age five, the child may also qualify for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) through the New Mexico Department of Health. The income ceiling is 185% FPL, but here is the shortcut: a child who already receives SNAP, Turquoise Care Medicaid, or NMW cash assistance automatically meets WIC's financial eligibility test. WIC provides targeted food benefits on an eWIC card for specific nutritional items — milk, eggs, fruit, cereal, infant formula — plus nutritional counseling.

How to Enroll

Apply through the YES New Mexico portal (yes.state.nm.us), by calling 1-855-637-6574, or in person at a county ISD office. One combined application covers Turquoise Care, NMW cash, SNAP, and LIHEAP.

You do not need the child's Social Security card in hand to start. The HCA uses automated electronic checks with the Social Security Administration and State Vital Statistics to verify identity and citizenship. If documentation is still being gathered, the state can grant temporary presumptive eligibility so the child has immediate medical access while records are reconciled.

If an application or renewal is closed because of missing paperwork, a 90-day reconsideration window lets you submit the documents without filing a brand new application.

Renewals and Federal Changes

Annual redeterminations happen every 12 months. Children remain protected under continuous pediatric coverage rules even as federal changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act phase in adult-focused semi-annual reviews in late 2026 and 2027.

For the full picture of health coverage alongside cash grants, food assistance, and childcare, see our complete New Mexico financial help guide.

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