Medicaid Work Requirements in Massachusetts
Beginning January 1, 2027, some MassHealth members ages 19 to 64 without young children or a disability must meet work or education requirements and will renew every 6 months. The Governor's office says about 360,000 members may be affected.
Check your situation in Massachusetts
When it starts in Massachusetts
- August 2026: MassHealth began notifying members.
- January 1, 2027: the requirement starts. Current members notice it at their 2027 renewal.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult expansion group, unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.
You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a total (100%) VA disability rating or TDIU, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.
Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. Massachusetts was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave Massachusetts six months of relief from federal enforcement of its medically frail decisions while it updates its systems. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How Massachusetts checks and how to report
Months checked: New applicants must meet the requirement in the month before they apply. Current members are checked at their first 2027 renewal.
MassHealth will first try to renew you using information it already has, such as income data. If it cannot, it mails a Request for Information, and you have 30 days to respond.
Other things to know in Massachusetts
- Ways to qualify: 80 or more hours a month of work, volunteering, or a work program; school at least half-time; or earning $580 a month.
- The state estimates about 175,000 people could lose coverage from the work requirement and 6-month renewals combined.
Official tools and contacts
- MassHealth Customer Service Center (TTY 711): 1-800-841-2900
- Mass.gov: new work and education requirements for MassHealth members
- Mass.gov: federal changes affecting MassHealth members
- Agency: Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (MassHealth)
Federal protections that apply in Massachusetts
- The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
- If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
- You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
- If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medicaid work requirements start in Massachusetts?
January 1, 2027. Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.
How many months does Massachusetts check?
New applicants must meet the requirement in the month before they apply. Current members are checked at their first 2027 renewal.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in Massachusetts?
MassHealth will first try to renew you using information it already has, such as income data. If it cannot, it mails a Request for Information, and you have 30 days to respond.
Who do I call about MassHealth work requirements?
MassHealth Customer Service Center (TTY 711): 1-800-841-2900
Can I lose MassHealth right away if I don't meet the requirement?
No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.
Sources
- Mass.gov: new work and education requirements
- Mass.gov: federal changes affecting MassHealth members
- Governor Healey: statewide campaign for MassHealth members
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119: community engagement requirement (GovInfo)
- CMS interim final rule, Medicaid community engagement requirement, 91 FR 33348 (June 3, 2026)
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 1:26-cv-12962-RGS (D. Mass.), memorandum and order (Oct. 29, 2026)