New Medicaid work rules start Jan. 1 for some Garrett adults
Adults 19 to 64 on Medicaid will need to show work, school or volunteer hours unless exempt, and coverage must be renewed every six months.
Some Garrett County adults on Medicaid will have to show they work, go to school or volunteer to keep their coverage under new federal rules that take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The Garrett County Health Department is urging residents to check whether the changes apply to them. Maryland Health Connection, which handles Medicaid enrollment in the state, has posted details on its website.
Who is affected. The work rules apply to adults ages 19 to 64 on Medicaid, which covers incomes up to about $21,000 a year for one person or about $44,000 for a family of four, according to Maryland Health Connection.
Many people are exempt, including those under 19 or 65 and older, people with Medicare, pregnant people and those who gave birth in the past year, parents or caregivers of a child under 14 or a person with a disability, veterans with a disability, and people whose health conditions limit their ability to work. Other exemptions are listed on the state's site.
What counts. Each month, a person can meet the rule in any one of three ways: earn at least $580 from a job, attend school at least half-time, or put in 80 hours of paid work, school, job training or volunteering in any mix. When they renew in 2027, members must show they met the requirement for at least one month, the state says.
Renewals twice a year. Medicaid coverage will also have to be renewed every six months instead of once a year, according to the state.
Maryland Health Connection says it will check what it can using information it already has, and will send a letter or email if it needs more proof. Notices went out in September to members who need to meet the rules. The state advises members to keep their contact information current, report changes in income or household size, and read every letter and email it sends.
Residents can check whether the changes apply to them at MarylandHealthConnection.gov/checkin or call the Consumer Support Center at 1-855-642-8572. The Garrett County Health Department can be reached at 301-334-7777.
