Medicaid is state and federally funded health care coverage. Stark County Job & Family Services administers Medicaid programs that may provide health care coverage for:
- Income-eligible parents and their children up to age 20
- Preventive and treatment services up to age 21
- Pregnant women
- Adults age 65 and older may be eligible
- Ohioans of any age who have disabilities (including those who are legally blind) may also qualify for Medicaid.
- Long Term Care Medicaid for a person with a severe disability or medically unstable condition requiring care from a Nursing facility
- Children in foster care
- Medicaid Expansion: Uninsured individuals with or without dependents and with no limiting physical factors may qualify if at or below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- Medicaid Home and Community Based Services that allow people with disabilities to receive care in the home and community instead of a long term care facility, hospital or immediate care facility
- Individuals with low income who are also Medicare eligible may receive help with all or part of their Part-B premiums, coinsurance and/or other deductibles through the Medicare Premium Assistance Program
- Medicaid-Eligible Consumers may receive transportation to any Medicaid-covered appointment (doctor visit, dental visits and vision appointments). Click here for more information on transportation services.
Medicaid is very broad, with two major covered groups, Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD), and Covered Families and Children (CF&C). Those who claim to be disabled, but who are not eligible for a regular Medicaid program may qualify through the Disability Determination Area process.
Most Medicaid recipients receive benefit coverage through a Managed Care Plan (MCP).
There are several Medicaid programs. To learn about the different programs, read About Medicaid.
Medicaid Updates
New work requirements for Medicaid will go into effect on January 1, 2027, and are entirely separate from changes made to SNAP listed below. We are still awaiting complete guidance from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the State of Ohio's Department of Medicaid for a complete picture of what changes to Medicaid will look like.
What we do know:
These new Medicaid work requirements will apply to the Medicaid Expansion Group, also referred to as Medicaid Group VIII (8).
Other names for the affected group include MAGI adult coverage, Ribicoff coverage, Medicaid Expansion Group, and Group VIII (8). All these names refer to the same group of individuals who must comply with new federal work requirements in order to maintain Medicaid coverage.
The Medicaid Expansion Group refers to adults covered by Medicaid who are:
- 19-64 years old
- Not pregnant
- Not disabled
- Have an income at or below 138% the Federal Poverty Level
|
138% Federal Poverty Level |
Household Size |
| $22,024.80 | 1 |
| $29,863.20 | 2 |
| $37,701.60 | 3 |
| $45,540.00 | 4 |
| $53,378.40 | 5 |
| $61,216.80 | 6 |
| $69,055.20 | 7 |
If you are NOT in Group VIII, you do not have to meet these work requirements.
If you are in Group VIII, you may qualify for an exemption and therefore do not have to meet these requirements.
If you are in Group VIII, you do not have to meet work requirements if:
- You are a current of former foster child under age 26
- You are a parent, guardian, caretaker relative, or family caregiver of either:
- A dependent child age 13 or younger, or
- A disabled individual (including someone in another household, if you provide significant care)
- You are a veteran who is rated 100% disabled because of a service-connected condition
- You have a physical or mental health condition that keeps you from working or participating in other activities. This includes:
- Blindness or disability as defined by the SSA
- A substance use disorder
- A disabling mental disorder
- A physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that significantly limits activites of daily living
- A serious or complex medical condition
- You are meeting SNAP or OWF work requirements
- You are participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program
- You are incarcerated or have been recently released
- You are pregnant or are in your 12-month postpartum period
- You are entitled to or have Medicare Part A
- You have Medicare Part B
IMPORTANT: You must provide documentation showing you meet one of these exemptions, or your benefits will end or your Medicaid application will be denied.
How do I know if I am in Group 8?
The One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1) created nationwide work requirements for the Medicaid Expansion Group, also known as Group VIII (8), MAGI Adult coverage, or Ribicoff coverage. All these names refer to the same covered group and can be used interchangeably.
Beginning January 1, 2027, adults in Group VIII will be required to complete 80 hours per month OR the equivalent of 80 hours per month based on the federal minimum wage ($580 monthly income) of an approved work activity.
Approved work activities include:
|
Approved Work Activities |
Documentation to Prove |
| Paid employment, self-employment, or unpaid work like caregiving, work in exchange for goods or housing, or an internship | Pay stubs or a statement from your employer |
| Community service (must be with a public agency or nonprofit organization) | A letter from the organization where you volunteered |
| Participation in a recognized work program, such as those offered through OhioMeansJobs | A letter from the organization running the program |
| Being enrolled at least half-time in high school, a GED course, college, or technical schools | Proof of enrollment or your class schedule |
If you are APPLYING for Medicaid, you must show you meet the work requirements the month before you applied.
If you are RENEWING your Medicaid coverage, you must show that you met the requirement for at least one month since your last application or renewal.
Starting January 1, 2027, Group VIII must renew Medicaid coverage every 6 months, rather than every 12 months.
Contact Information
https://benefits.ohio.gov - Register for a Self-Service Portal account!Customer Service Center: 1 (844) 640-OHIO (6446) - you may experience extended wait times