Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement
A new federal Medicaid work requirement will affect some members enrolled in BadgerCare Plus in 2027
Work requirements are coming in early 2027 for some Medicaid members enrolled in BadgerCare Plus. When the new federal law takes effect, some members between 19 and 64 years old will have to work, go to school, or volunteer in order to keep their health care coverage.
Background
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, added several new red-tape requirements, including new federal work requirements to Medicaid. The federal Medicaid work requirement for states will go into effect early next year. Because of the new federal requirements, some adults enrolled in BadgerCare Plus will need to show that they work, go to school, or volunteer, to keep their coverage.
Do I have to meet the new federal Medicaid work requirement? How will I know?
If you are enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and are between 19 and 64 years old, not pregnant, not disabled, and don’t have dependent children under 19 living with you, then you may need to meet the federal work requirement. There are other reasons (Medicaid: Federal Work Requirement Exemptions) why you may not need to meet the work requirement.
Check out the Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Who Needs to Meet It, P-03809 factsheet.
In August, we sent a letter to members who may be affected by the work requirement. We will continue to send information to members who need to meet the work requirement as their renewal date gets closer. Please read any letters you get about your BadgerCare Plus coverage in the mail or online.
Does this apply to me?
Use our screening tool to check whether you may have to meet the new federal work requirement.
When does the work requirement start?
- New applicants: January 1, 2027. You must meet the federal work requirement in the month before you submit an application. For example, if you apply for Medicaid in January 2027, you must meet the federal work requirement in December 2026.
- Most current members: March 2027. The earliest you would be affected by the federal work requirement is at your next scheduled health care coverage renewal, beginning in March. You must meet the federal work requirement in one month since you were last approved for health care coverage. For example, if you are due to renew your Medicaid coverage in March 2027, you must meet the federal work requirement in one month between April 2026 and March 2027.
What can I do now?
- Keep your contact information up to date (mailing address, phone, and email address) with your agency.
- Read any notices you get about your BadgerCare Plus coverage in the mail or online.
- Set up an ACCESS account and get the MyACCESS app to see important notices.
- Opt-in to receive texts and emails. Log in to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) and select Update Contact Information.
- Check our Medicaid News webpage for the latest information.
- Continue to use your BadgerCare Plus coverage to get the health care and services you need.
Are there reasons (work requirement exemptions) I may not have to meet the federal Medicaid work requirement?
Yes, under the law passed by Congress and the President, there are several exemptions. Exemptions are reasons that the law says people don’t have to meet the federal Medicaid work requirement.
As a reminder, you don’t have to meet the federal work requirement if you are:
- Enrolled in a Medicaid program other than BadgerCare Plus
- Under age 19 or over age 64
- A parent or guardian of a dependent child under age 19 who lives with you at least 40% of the time
- Pregnant or in the 12 months after your pregnancy
Go to the Medicaid: Federal Work Requirement Exemptions webpage for a detailed list of exemptions, including medical exemptions, and more information about how exemptions are applied.
Maybe. Under the federal law, you may have to meet the federal work requirement if you are a BadgerCare Plus member and if your children are 19 or older or if your children do not live with you at least 40% of the time.
Check out our Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for Parents, P-03809D factsheet.
If your dependent children are under age 19 and live with you at least 40% of the time, you are considered a parent/guardian. You would then not be subject to the work requirement.
Check out our Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for Parents, P-03809D factsheet.
How can I meet the federal work requirement?
If you do not have an exemption, you can meet the requirement through one or more of the following activities in a single month:
- Complete 80 hours of work, volunteering, or work program participation
- Attend school or an educational program at least half-time
- Complete any combination of the above activities for 80 or more hours
- Have at least $580 in household income
If you are a current BadgerCare Plus member, you must meet the requirement in one month since you were last approved for health care coverage. New applicants must meet the requirement in the month before they submit an application.
Check out the Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: How to Meet It, P-03809B factsheet.
If you are getting paid to do work, we would consider it to be employment, however, you don’t need to be paid money for your work to count. Work could also be in exchange for goods or services. We call this in-kind work. You can also be doing unpaid work, such as an internship. You can also meet the work requirement through work programs, volunteering, and education.
No. Getting unemployment compensation was not included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a reason that someone can be exempt from the work requirement. However, someone can meet the work requirement by having $580 in income in a month, and unemployment compensation counts as income. So, if you got at least $580 in unemployment compensation in a month, or in unemployment plus other sources of income, that would meet the work requirement.
No, you do not need to meet it every month.
For new applicants, we will look back at the month prior to the month of application to see if the person met the work requirement or was exempt.
For current members, we will check when they complete their annual renewal. At that time, we will look back and see if they were exempt or met the work requirement for one month since they were last approved (at renewal or application) for coverage, which in most cases will be the last 12 months.
For new applicants, we will look back at the month prior to the month of application to see if the person was exempt or was meeting the work requirement.
For current members, we will look back and see if they were exempt or were meeting the work requirement for one month since they were last approved (at renewal or application) for coverage, which in most cases will be the last 12 months.
It depends. For new applicants, we would look at the month before the month they applied to see if they met the work requirement or were exempt. For current members, we will look back and see if they were exempt or met the work requirement for one month since they were last approved (at renewal or application) for coverage, which in most cases will be the last 12 months.
No. We will check for compliance or an exemption when someone first applies and then we'll check annually at renewal.
What happens if I don't meet the work requirement or don't have an exemption?
If someone is a current member, is not exempt, and does not meet the work requirement, at renewal their benefits will end with advance notice.
If an applicant does not have an exemption or does not meet the work requirement, their application will be denied.
No. Members can reapply at any time, and if they meet the program's rules, can gain eligibility at any time.
Someone who is unable to get Medicaid because they didn’t meet the work requirement can apply for health care coverage via the federal Marketplace, however, they will not qualify for Advance Premium Tax Credits. This restriction is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Resources
- Medicaid: Federal Work Requirement Exemptions web page
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement Factsheets:
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Who Needs to Meet It, P-03809
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Who Is Exempt, P-03809A
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: How to Meet It, P-03809B
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: How Can I Find Out if I'm Enrolled in BadgerCare Plus?, P-03809G
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: How Can I Find Out When My Next Renewal is Due?, P-03809I
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for Tribal Members, P-03809C
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for Parents, P-03809D
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for Caregivers, P-03809F
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: Information for People with Disabilities, P-03809E
- Federal Medicaid Work Requirement: What New Applicants Need to Know, P-03809J