MassHealth Member Webinar: Learn if federal changes affect you
MassHealth is hosting webinars where you can learn about upcoming changes to MassHealth. A 2025 federal law means some MassHealth members will need to meet new requirements. These include work or education requirements and more frequent renewals.
Members can come to any of these 3 webinars. All will have the same information.
- Tuesday, April 7, 2026 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm (Zoom link for webinar 1)
- Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Zoom link for webinar 2)
- Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm (Zoom link for webinar 3)
We will provide Spanish language, American Sign Language, and communication access real-time translation (CART).
People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled: contact MassHealth’s Disability Accommodations Ombudsman at ADAAccommodations@mass.gov or (617) 847-3468, TDD/TTY: 711 or (617) 847-3788 for accommodation.
When changes are happening and who will be affected
Most changes to MassHealth are not happening right away, and they will not impact all MassHealth members. MassHealth members and providers should keep getting and delivering care.
Here is a list of important dates:
- October 2026: Some immigrants legally in the U.S. will stop being eligible for MassHealth.
- January 2027: Changes will start for MassHealth members who are 19 to 64 years old, and who do not have young children or a disability:
- New work or education requirements; and
- Renew coverage every 6 months instead of each year
- January 2027: Changes in retroactive coverage (coverage from before you were a member).
- October 2028: Some members, ages 19 to 64, may have to pay part of the cost for some health care services.
How do I know if I am a MassHealth member?
If you have a valid member ID card, you are a MassHealth member.
What can I do right now to keep coverage?
The most important things you can do now are:
- Make sure we have your current mailing address, email, and cell phone number so that you receive important messages.
- Update your address, phone, and email where we can reach you if needed.
- Read all notices MassHealth sends you.
- Report any changes that could affect your coverage, like a new pregnancy or disability, a change in your income, or a change to the size of your household.
- Sign up for MyServices to see important information about your coverage 24 hours a day.
Note: Our call center, enrollment centers, and assisters do not have more information about the federal changes than you’ll find on this page.
Work and education requirements for some adults ages 19 to 64 (January 2027)
What change is happening and who is affected:
As of January 1, 2027, adults age 19 to 64 without young children or a disability will need to meet work or education requirements. If you are already a MassHealth member, you will start to notice these changes when you renew your coverage in 2027.
You can meet these requirements if you:
- Work, volunteer, or attend a work program for 80 hours or more a month (or any combination of these activities for at least 80 hours a month);
- Are enrolled in education at least half time; or
- Make at least $580 in a month.
If these changes apply to you, you will receive a notice in the mail and other forms of outreach, such as text messages and calls beginning in August 2026 so that you can prepare.
Who is not affected:
You will not need to meet work or education requirements if you are:
- Younger than 19
- Older than 64
- Pregnant or postpartum (that is, you've been pregnant in the last 12 months, no matter the outcome of the pregnancy)
- A parent, guardian, or caretaker of a dependent child (13 or younger) or someone with a disability
- A former foster youth under the age of 26
- A veteran with a disability rated as “total”
- Someone who is medically frail, including someone who is blind or disabled, who has a substance use disorder or a disabling mental disorder, or who has a serious or complex medical condition.
- Eligible for or enrolled in Medicare Part A
- Enrolled in Medicare Part B
- Participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment, or rehabilitation program
- Meeting TAFDC work requirements or subject to SNAP work requirements
- An inmate of a public institution, or were an inmate in the prior 3 months
- Indian or Urban Indian, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Note: MassHealth is waiting for final guidance from the federal government on further details, including how to verify that members meet work or education requirements and how to define “medically frail.” The information above may change based on upcoming guidance from the federal government.
More frequent renewals of coverage for some adults ages 19 to 64 (January 2027)
What is changing and who is affected:
Starting on January 1, 2027, some members will need to renew their coverage every 6 months instead of every year. This includes:
- Adults age 19 to 64 without young children or a disability
Who is not affected:
You will not need to renew your coverage every 6 months if you are:
- Younger than 19
- Older than 64
- Pregnant or postpartum (that is, you've been pregnant in the last 12 months, regardless of outcome)
- A parent, guardian, or caretaker of a dependent child (13 or younger)
- Indian or Urban Indian, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Learn more about how to renew.
Note: The information above may change based on guidance from the federal government.
Changes to retroactive coverage (January 2027)
What is changing and who is affected:
Right now, when you apply for MassHealth, you can ask for coverage up to three months before your application date. This retroactive coverage can help pay medical bills from before you applied.
Starting January 1, 2027, this retroactive coverage will be limited to:
- One month for adults ages 19 to 64 who are not pregnant, not disabled and do not have children
- Two months for all other applicants
Note: The information above may change based on guidance from the federal government.
Rules about covering the cost of care (October 2028)
What is changing and who is affected:
The term cost sharing refers to out of pocket costs that members have to pay. Examples of these expenses include copays, premiums, or deductibles.
Some adults may need to pay part of the cost for certain health care services. These changes mainly affect adults who:
- Are age 19 to 64
- Do not have a disability
- Do not have young children
- Have income above 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
Cost sharing for any single item or service cannot exceed $35, and total cost sharing cannot exceed 5% of a family’s income.
Who is not affected:
You will not need to pay for health care services if you are:
- Pregnant or postpartum (that is, you've been pregnant in the last 12 months, no matter the outcome of the pregnancy)
- A parent, guardian, or caretaker of a dependent child (13 or younger)
- Someone with a disability
- A member of a federally recognized tribe
Note: The information above may change based on guidance from the federal government.
Changes for members with certain immigration statuses (October 2026)
What is changing and who is affected:
Under the new federal law, as of October 1, 2026, some lawfully present immigrants will no longer be eligible for comprehensive Medicaid. MassHealth estimates that approximately 2,500 members will be impacted by these changes.
This may affect members who:
- Came to the U.S. as refugees
- Were granted asylum
- Were given humanitarian parole
- Have immigration status because they or their family survived abuse or trafficking
- Have immigration status because they or their family are a noncitizen veteran
- Have had deportation withheld by the Attorney General
- Are pre-1980 conditional entrants
- Fall into certain categories of Iraqi, Afghan, Ukrainian, or Amerasian immigrants
- Are certain non-U.S. born Native Americans
Even if you fall into one of the above categories, you should not be affected by these changes if you:
- Also have one of the following statuses:
- Legal permanent resident (Green Card holders)
- Cuban and Haitian Entrant
- People from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau living in the U.S. under a special agreement called the Compact of Free Association (COFA)
- Are a child under 21 years of age
- Are pregnant or postpartum (that is, you've been pregnant in the last 12 months, no matter the outcome of the pregnancy)
Members who are affected by these changes will switch to a different type of MassHealth coverage. Members who are 65 and over or disabled will generally be enrolled in MassHealth Family Assistance, which is another type of comprehensive coverage. Members who are 21 to 64 and non-disabled will generally be enrolled in MassHealth Limited and/or the Health Safety Net.
Learn more about changes impacting immigrants and non-citizens.
Note: The information above may change based on guidance from the federal government.
| Date published: | March 31, 2026 |
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