Last year’s federal budget reconciliation legislation—referred to by some as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but by many by its legislative bill number, H.R.1—included changes to Medicaid eligibility and enrollment that will impact as many as one and a half to two million people in New York. Beginning January 1, 2027, some people seeking Medicaid coverage or a renewal of their existing coverage will be required to prove they are working, volunteering, or going to school in order to qualify for Medicaid. Alternatively, they may prove they meet an exemption from this requirement because they have a disability, are pregnant or were recently pregnant, are a caregiver, or any other number of characteristics the new federal law would allow.
It is important to know:
- The state is working to automate as much of this as possible so compliance with these requirements can be verified through existing data and information, keeping people from having to do paperwork to prove they are meeting the requirement;
- Most people who are eligible or already enrolled in Medicaid work; these rules will not serve to connect people to work who are not already working, they will only serve to kick people off of their coverage, even if they are still income-eligible for Medicaid.
The Schuyler Center is home to Medicaid Matters New York, the statewide Medicaid consumer advocacy coalition representing the interests of people who have Medicaid for their health insurance coverage. Coalition members are Medicaid beneficiaries, family members of Medicaid beneficiaries, community-based organizations, community-based providers, legal services agencies, and more. Since 2003, Medicaid Matters New York has been bringing consumer interests to the table when it comes to how decisions about Medicaid policy and budget changes impact New Yorkers.
Medicaid Matters New York has published a fact sheet on the Medicaid work reporting requirements to provide basic information about what New Yorkers might expect. The fact sheet also lays out a few major concerns, what advocates are doing as the state implements this change, and considerations for the future. The fact sheet is available is English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
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