Home

Looking Ahead to HR1: Six-Month Medicaid Renewals Coming Next Year

James "Jake" Lee

Starting in 2027, many Pennsylvanians with Medicaid will have to renew their coverage twice a year instead of once a year. Under H.R. 1, the federal budget law passed in 2025, adults ages 19 through 64 who get Medicaid through the Medicaid expansion group will have their eligibility reviewed every six months instead of every 12 months. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will begin implementing this change on January 1, 2027.
 

When does the change start?

  • If you already have Medicaid: You will switch to six-month renewals after you complete your next renewal in or after February 2027. For example, if your next renewal is due in March 2027, you will renew again in September 2027.
  • If you apply and are approved on or after January 1, 2027: Your first renewal will be due six months after your coverage begins. For example, if your coverage starts in January 2027, you will renew in July 2027.
     

Who is affected?

Six-month renewals apply only to the Medicaid expansion group. This group is adults ages 19–64 with income under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Being exempt from the new work requirements does not exempt you from six-month renewals. For example, a parent of a young child who is covered through Medicaid Expansion does not have to meet work requirements but still has to renew every six months.

Other Medicaid categories will stay on a yearly renewal schedule (see Table below):

Who Will Stay on Yearly Renewals
  • Age 18 or younger
  • Age 65+
  • SSI recipients
  • Medicare eligibles
  • Community HealthChoices (CHC) enrollees (all)
  • Nursing facility residents
  • CHC, Consolidated, Community Living, PFDS, Adult Autism, and OBRA Waiver recipients
  • LIFE enrollees
  • MAWD and Workers with Job Success recipients (but must do some work to qualify)
  • Parents/caretakers of children under 18 with income at or below 33% of the federal poverty level
  • People who are pregnant or within 12 months postpartum
  • Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program enrollees
  • Former foster youth until age 26
  • People eligible in any other non-Medicaid expansion category

How do I know if I'm in the expansion group?

Check your Medicaid notices or your COMPASS account. You can also call the DHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 in Philadelphia) or DHS's HR1 FAQ Line at 1-877-883-6383 and ask whether you are in the Medicaid expansion category. If you're not sure, it is worth finding out before your next renewal.

 

How to get ready

  • Keep your contact information current. Check that DHS has your current address, phone number, and email. You can update them in COMPASS or the myCOMPASS PA app.
  • Sign up for DHS text and email alerts at dhs.pa.gov/text.
  • Open and respond to every DHS notice right away, and report any changes that could affect your eligibility.
  • Complete each renewal on time. You can renew online through COMPASS or the myCOMPASS PA app, by phone, by mail, or in person at your County Assistance Office.
     

The practical takeaway is that, for people in the Medicaid expansion group, renewals will now come around twice a year. Watching for DHS notices and completing each renewal on time is the best way to avoid a gap in coverage.