Am I exempt? Do my hours count?
Every state, plain English.
The federal 80-hours-a-month Medicaid rule reaches 40 states and D.C. by January 2027. We translate the statute so you can protect your coverage with confidence — no account, nothing stored.
Do my hours count?
- Paid employment Counts
- Self-employment / gig work Counts
- Volunteering Counts
- School / training Half-time+
- Caregiving Exempts you instead
- Job searching Not federally
State-by-State Guides
Plain-English status, dates, and rules for all 50 states and D.C.
Explore states →What Counts
Which activities count toward the 80 hours — and which usually don't.
See what counts →Exemption Quiz
All 10 federal exemptions in one 2-minute check.
Check exemptions →If You Lose Coverage
Appeals, reapplying, and your marketplace options, step by step.
Make a plan →Email Updates
One short email when your state's rules or dates change.
Get updates →How it works
1. Answer 10 quick questions
Age, family, health, work — the same 10 exemption categories the law uses. Nothing is stored.
2. Get a plain-English verdict
Likely exempt, already compliant, or needs a plan — with the exact reason and what to show your state.
3. Protect your coverage
Your state's dates, the proof to keep, and what to do if a notice arrives — before the deadline, not after.
The country at a glance
Computed from our state-by-state data spine (snapshot 2026-07-03). Read the analysis: which states have work requirements in 2027 — and which never will.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Medicaid work requirement?
A federal rule from H.R. 1 (enacted July 2025): adults 19-64 covered through the ACA Medicaid expansion must show 80 hours a month of work, community service, or work programs — or half-time school enrollment, or $580/month in income — unless they qualify for an exemption.
When does it start?
Federal law requires it by January 2027 in the 41 expansion jurisdictions. It is already being enforced early in 2 states (MT, NE); 2 more (AR, IA) are starting ahead of the deadline; and Georgia has run its own 80-hour Pathways program since 2023.
Who is exempt?
There are 10 federal exemption categories, including pregnancy, parents/caretakers of a child 13 or younger, people who are medically frail (including substance use and mental health conditions), veterans with a total disability rating, and tribal members. Our 2-minute quiz walks all of them.
Does this apply if I'm on Medicaid through a disability?
Generally no. The rule targets the expansion group. Coverage through disability, SSI, pregnancy, or pre-ACA parent/caretaker pathways is outside it — verify your category with your state.
What happens if I don't meet it?
Your state must send a notice and give you 30 days to show compliance or an exemption before coverage ends. Losing Medicaid this way can also block marketplace subsidies, so respond to every notice — and check the exemption list first.
Get your state's deadlines by email
One short email when your state's work-requirement rules or dates change, plus new plain-English guides when we publish them. Free, no spam.