(Plain Press November 2026) Beginning January 1, 2027, some adults who receive Medicaid based on their income, rather than age or disability, will be impacted by new federal laws requiring them to meet work or community engagement requirements. Those recipients are starting to receive notifications from the Ohio Department of Medicaid that they must comply with these requirements. The changes are for those ages 19 to 64 who are enrolled in what is called “Medicaid Group VIII” or “expansion Medicaid.”
“Adults who are getting these notifications will have to choose between completing either 80 hours of employment per month or community requirements,” said Karla Perry, a Senior Attorney at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. “This includes volunteering, job training, work participation that’s offered through Job and Family Services, getting a GED, and going to college or a technical school. The mandatory 80 hours can also include a combination of these activities.”
Members of that Medicaid recipient group who are excluded from meeting these requirements include those who are currently or have previously been in the foster care system and are under the age of 26, those who meet the definition of blind or disabled by the Social Security Administration, and those who have serious medical conditions. To learn if you are included in this group, contact the Medicaid Consumer Hotline: 800-324-8680, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The timeline previously used to prove that a person is eligible for Medicaid has also changed.
“People were required to complete a redetermination every 12 months, but now they have to do it every 6 months,” said Perry. “Proof includes showing work stubs, your class schedule or school enrollment letter, or a letter from the organization where you are doing volunteer work. Recipients must show proof for the month before they apply for benefits. For example, if you were applying in January, you would have to show that you met the requirement in December. Without proving your work or community engagement activities, you could lose your benefits.”
If you lose your benefits, there are ways to try to get it reinstated.
“When people receive Medicaid notifications that their benefits have been denied, they can always reapply when they meet the requirements,” Perry said. “They also have the right to ask for a state hearing. It’s informal – a lot of times it’s done over the phone or by video. Usually, a representative from the county will be there to explain why the applicant was denied Medicaid and then there's an opportunity for the applicant to explain why they disagree with the determination made by Medicaid.”
For more information on Medicaid changes: medicaid.ohio.gov/resources-for-providers/special-programs-and-initiatives/group-viii/medicaid-group-viii
Legal Aid may be able to help those with Medicaid issues. Attend a free Legal Aid Brief Advice Clinic to speak with an attorney. For a full schedule: lasclev.org/clinics. To apply for free legal services, call 888-817-3777 or apply online: lasclev.org/apply.
Tonya Sams is a Development and Communications Manager at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
