Orientation, not a decision: NY State of Health decides from your records. Free help in the city: NYC Health Department, 347-665-0214. The math runs in your browser; nothing is stored.
What the checker uses
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Age 19 to 64 | The rule is written for working-age adults only |
| Medicaid by income through NY State of Health | The expansion group; Medicaid through a disability determination is outside it |
| Exemptions | Pregnancy and the 12 months after, caring for a child under 14 or a disabled person, SSI-defined disability, serious medical or mental health conditions, drug or alcohol treatment, SNAP or TANF work rules, release from jail or prison in the last 90 days, inpatient care |
| 80 hours | Work, job training, community service and school combine inside a month |
| $580 | Monthly income that meets the rule without counting hours, which is 80 hours at the federal minimum wage |
The full explanation, with dates and what happens after a notice of noncompliance, is in our guide to the 2027 work requirement.
If you are exempt, get the document now
Some exemptions are applied automatically from data the state already has. Others have to be shown. In 2027 the state accepts self-attestation for certain exemptions, including medically frail; the city says that is restricted from 2028. A provider’s letter on file now is the simplest protection.
If you are short on hours
Hours combine: a parent who works 50 hours and spends the rest in a training course counts. Paid by the job rather than by the hour? The $580 income route may be the easier one to show. NY State of Health can also read payroll data through a company called Truv, if you opt in.
If coverage ends anyway
Keep getting care. NYC Care, 1-646-NYC-CARE, gives access to the city’s public hospitals with no immigration requirement, and community health centers charge on a sliding scale. A hospital bill from a gap still falls under New York’s hospital financial assistance law.
Questions people ask
Who has to meet the Medicaid work requirement in New York?
Many Medicaid enrollees aged 19 to 64 who get Medicaid by income through NY State of Health, from January 2027, unless an exemption applies.
How many hours do I need for the Medicaid work requirement?
80 hours a month of work, job training, community service or school, in any combination, or monthly income of at least $580.
Are parents exempt from the Medicaid work requirement?
Parents, guardians and caregivers of a child under 14 are exempt, and so are people caring for a disabled individual.
When will New York check the work requirement?
For people already on Medicaid, at renewal, starting with renewals from March 1, 2027. New applicants face it from January 2027.
Where can I get free help with the Medicaid work requirement in NYC?
The NYC Health Department at 347-665-0214.
Sources
- NYC Health Department — Medicaid coverage changes (checked 2026-09-30)
- NYC Health Department — Are you on Medicaid? Changes are coming (fact sheet) (checked 2026-09-30)
- CMS — Medicaid community engagement requirement interim final rule (June 2026) (checked 2026-09-07)
More in Medicaid in New York: Who Qualifies, How to Apply, How to Keep It
- Medicaid Look-Back Period in New York: 60 Months for Nursing Homes, and the Home Care Rule That Has Not Started — New York reviews 60 months of transfers for nursing home Medicaid. In NYC each $15,282 given away in 2026 costs one month of coverage. Home care rules differ.
- Dentists That Take Medicaid in NYC: How to Find One Through Your Plan, Clinics and Dental Schools — How to find a dentist who takes Medicaid in NYC: your plan's directory, state lists, city clinics and dental schools, and what NY Medicaid dental covers now.
- Assisted Living That Accepts Medicaid in New York: How the Assisted Living Program Works — In New York, Medicaid reaches assisted living through the Assisted Living Program (ALP) in certain adult homes. Who qualifies, what Medicaid pays, and the rent.
This page explains how the system works. It is not medical advice. More.