Work Requirements

Medicaid work requirements may apply to you if you get your coverage through the Medicaid expansion program. Medicaid expansion provides coverage for low‑income adults ages 19–64.  

 If you do not meet the work requirements and do not qualify for one of the exemptions listed below, your Medicaid coverage may end. 

Work requirements do not apply to you if you: 

•  Are younger than 19 or older than 64 
• Are a parent or primary caregiver of a child younger than 14 
• Are a caregiver of a person of any age with a with a disability 
• Have a physical, mental, or emotional condition that makes it difficult to work, attend school, or volunteer 
• Are in a drug or alcohol treatment program 
• Are pregnant now or had a baby in the last year 
• Are Native American or Alaska Native 
• Were in jail or prison within the last three months 
• Were in foster care when you turned 18 
• Are a veteran with a total (100%) disability rating 
• Are compliant with TANF work requirements 
• Are receiving SNAP and meeting SNAP work requirements 
• Are enrolled in Medicare, getting SSI/SSDI, or disability benefits 

 You may also qualify for a short‑term hardship exemption if you are temporarily unable to meet the work requirements (for example, due to a short‑term illness, family crisis, or loss of transportation). 

There are many ways to meet the work requirements.  

 You can qualify by earning at least $580 per month. For seasonal workers only, an average monthly income of at least $580 over the previous six months also qualifies. If you earn this amount, and the State has information on file for you, your coverage will renew automatically. If we don't have enough information, we will ask you to provide documents such as a paystub. 

 You can also qualify by completing 80 hours per month of any combination of the following:  

• Working a job 
• Volunteering or doing community service at a public or nonprofit organization 
• Participating in job training, a job skills program, or a workforce development program 
• Attending school or a trade or vocational program  
  • If you are enrolled in an educational program at least half-time (40 hours per month), you will meet the requirement.  
  • If you are enrolled in an educational program less than 40 hours per month, you can combine it with work, volunteering, or job training to meet the 80-hour per month requirement.  

If you do not meet the work requirements and do not qualify for an exemption: 

• Your Medicaid coverage may end. 
• You may not be able to get help to pay for Marketplace coverage. 
• You can reapply for Medicaid at any time, but you may have a gap in coverage.

You do not need to report on your work or related activities now, but you can take these steps to get prepared:  

• Make sure your mailing address, phone number, and email are up to date in your HealthyRhode account. This is how the State will contact you with important updates about your coverage. Learn how to update your account.  
• If anything in your life changes, update your Medicaid information right away. This includes changes to your household, income, job, citizenship, or disability status. Some changes, like having a baby, becoming a caregiver, or having a disability, may mean you no longer have to meet work requirements. 
• Starting in 2027, we may ask you to send us information about your work, school, volunteering, or income. Keeping records or documents now (like pay stubs, school schedules, or volunteer hours) may make reporting easier if we ask for them later. 
• Look up when your Medicaid coverage will renew. 

You do not need to report anything right now. Starting in 2027, Medicaid will renew your coverage every six months instead of once a year. At each renewal, we will look at the past 6 months to see if you:  

• Met the work requirement for at least one month, or  
• Qualified for an exemption for at least one month.  

If we have information on file for you, your coverage will renew automatically. If we need more information, we will send you a notice explaining what to submit. If you are not exempt from work requirements, we will ask for details about your work hours, school attendance, volunteering, job training, or income. This notice does not mean you will lose coverage. It means we need to review your situation under the new rules. 
 

These changes go into effect in 2027, and your reporting requirements will begin at your first renewal that year. 

When it is time to renew, you will be notified through your HealthyRhode account and by mail if you need to submit documents. The State will send you instructions at that time. 

No. You only need to meet the 80-hour requirement for one month out of every six months. As long as you meet the requirement at least one month before each renewal, you will keep your coverage.