Medicaid Work Requirements in Utah
Starting January 1, 2027, Utah members ages 19 to 64 in Adult Expansion Medicaid or Targeted Adult Medicaid must show 80 hours a month of qualifying activity or $580 a month in earnings. Proof may be needed every 6 months at review.
When it starts in Utah
- July 2026: Utah Medicaid mailed a community engagement and eligibility review letter.
- January 1, 2027: the requirement starts.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in Adult Expansion Medicaid or Targeted Adult Medicaid (TAM), 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. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How Utah checks and how to report
Months checked: Checked at each review, every 6 months.
Utah's member letter points to myCase (mycase.utah.gov) for updates. Watch for letters from Utah Medicaid or Workforce Services about your review.
Other things to know in Utah
- Utah says it is adding data sources to check eligibility quickly and automatically.
- Questions about H.R. 1 policy can go to dih_obbba@utah.gov.
Official tools and contacts
- Report and upload: myCase
- Workforce Services (eligibility questions): 1-866-435-7414
- Medicaid Health Program Representative: 1-866-659-6176
- Utah Medicaid: OBBBA / H.R. 1 changes
- Agency: Utah Department of Health and Human Services; eligibility by Department of Workforce Services
Federal protections that apply in Utah
- 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 Utah?
January 1, 2027. Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.
How many months does Utah check?
Checked at each review, every 6 months.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in Utah?
Utah's member letter points to myCase (mycase.utah.gov) for updates. Watch for letters from Utah Medicaid or Workforce Services about your review.
Who do I call about Utah Medicaid work requirements?
Workforce Services (eligibility questions): 1-866-435-7414
Medicaid Health Program Representative: 1-866-659-6176
Can I lose Utah Medicaid 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
- Utah Medicaid: OBBBA / H.R. 1 changes
- 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)