Nearly 700K Pennsylvanians to receive informatory letters ahead of ’27 Medicaid changes

PENNSYLVANIA (WHP) — The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced on Thursday that it will begin sending letters this week to eligible residents to ensure they keep their Medicaid coverage ahead of 2027 changes.

Under the federal budget bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in July 2025, some Medicaid recipients and applicants aged 19 to 64 without a child under 14 will need to meet work requirements or prove an exemption to keep their coverage, according to DHS.

Pennsylvanians will be checked for work requirements when they apply for Medicaid and at renewal if they already receive Medicaid.

In the letters, recipients will be provided with outlines for how to meet work requirements, along with details of what qualifies as an exemption to these requirements. Starting in 2027, Medicaid renewals for these recipients will take place every six months instead of annually, DHS announced.

“For the first time ever, some Pennsylvania Medicaid recipients will need to verify they are working to receive health coverage. We have seen that when Medicaid work requirements have been enacted in other states, it adds more red tape, resulting in people losing their health care, not because they are not eligible but because the process to keep coverage is more difficult and creates confusion,” said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “PA DHS is doing everything we can to ensure Pennsylvanians stay covered. Since HR 1 became law last year, we have been preparing for these changes to the Medicaid program, including improving our technological capabilities and hiring staff. We are working alongside community organizations, health systems, managed care organizations, and others, to share information about these changes and to make sure Pennsylvanians who are eligible for Medicaid keep their coverage.”

To meet new work requirements, DHS noted Medicaid applicants or recipients must do one or a combination of the following for at least 80 hours per month:

WorkVolunteer or do community serviceParticipate in a job training program and/orAttend school at least half-time.

DHS specified that applicants whose monthly household income is at least $580 may not need to meet the new work requirements.

In a release, DHS pointed out that applicants and recipients may also be exempt from the following rules due to their health status or “other circumstances,” including pregnancy, certain parents or caretakers, and those with certain health or medical needs. For a full list of exemptions, click here.