Medicaid Work Requirements in Oregon

Starting January 1, 2027, many Oregon Health Plan members will need to show work, school, volunteer activities, or an approved exemption when they apply or renew. In 2027, you can report an exemption without proof.

Updated October 30, 2026 · Based on official sources listed below · How we research

Jan 1, 2027

Start date

80 hrs or $580

per month, or half-time school

Oregon Health Plan

OHP expansion adults

1-800-699-9075

ONE / apply line (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. PT)

Check your situation in Oregon

When it starts in Oregon

Mid-September 2026: members can see and report exemptions in the ONE system.
September 2026: an informational notice went to affected members, with another before renewal.
January 1, 2027: the requirement starts. Six-month renewals for many adults start in late 2027.

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. Oregon was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave Oregon 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 Oregon checks and how to report

Months checked: Applicants: the month before the application month. At renewal: at least one month during the six months before your renewal date.

Respond to notices online at Benefits.Oregon.gov or in the ONE account or Oregon ONE Mobile app, by phone, at a local ODHS office, or with help from a certified OHP assister.

Other things to know in Oregon

OHA checks SNAP and TANF records, Medicare status, and the past 12 months of medical claims to verify exemptions automatically.
Proof requirements expand in 2028.

Official tools and contacts

Report and upload: ONE (Benefits.Oregon.gov)
ONE / apply line (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. PT): 1-800-699-9075
OHP Client Services (TTY 711): 1-800-273-0557
OHA: federal changes to OHP
OHA: key changes (PDF)
Agency: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Human Services

Federal protections that apply in Oregon

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 Oregon?

January 1, 2027. Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.

How many months does Oregon check?

Applicants: the month before the application month. At renewal: at least one month during the six months before your renewal date.

How do I report my hours or an exemption in Oregon?

Respond to notices online at Benefits.Oregon.gov or in the ONE account or Oregon ONE Mobile app, by phone, at a local ODHS office, or with help from a certified OHP assister.

Who do I call about Oregon Health Plan work requirements?

ONE / apply line (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. PT): 1-800-699-9075
OHP Client Services (TTY 711): 1-800-273-0557

Can I lose Oregon Health Plan 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.