HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Nearly 700,000 Pennsylvanians are being notified of changes coming to Medicaid, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The department says those residents will begin receiving letters this week informing them of federally mandated changes that begin in January 2027.
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New requirements for Medicaid recipients are due to changes made by Congress in 2025, and residents will need to take action to keep their coverage.
“Some Medicaid recipients and applicants ages 19-64 who do not have a dependent child under 14 years old will need to meet work requirements or show they meet an exemption to keep their coverage,” the department said Friday. “Work requirements will be checked when a Pennsylvanian applies for Medicaid and at renewal for current Medicaid recipients.”
Work requirements include at least 80 hours a month of work, volunteer or community service, work training programs, or going to school. Applicants must also meet the requirement based on monthly household income, if it is at least $580 a month.
The letter, which was published on the department’s website, outlines how to meet the new requirements, exemptions, and how to remain covered.
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Starting next year, renewals must be made every six months instead of every 12 months.
“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.”
The department says that while they will be communicating with residents through letters and text messages, they will not ask for personal information, and residents should be wary of scams.
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