You are ignoring Medicaid which the article plans to cut. http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-spending-per-enrollee/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=

You are ignoring Medicaid which the article plans to cut. http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-spending-per-enrollee/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-spending-pe... That is ~$6k of benefits per person. So lets say two adults for $26k with $12k in lost benefits is ~$14k. The poverty line is $16k.