Medical
NEW!! SNAP/OWF/MEDICAL/CHILDCARE APPLICATIONS can be submitted online at benefits.ohio.gov, sent via email, fax, mail-in or submitted in-person at the local JFS office. The county has 30 days to process applications.
We are working as quickly as possible to provide services for your household. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience.
Health care coverage is provided through various Medicaid programs to certain low income and medically vulnerable people. Medicaid is a state and federally funded health program and eligible persons are entitled to medically necessary services at no or low cost. You must complete the application process to be determined eligible for Medicaid.
Who Qualifies for Coverage?
The following individuals may qualify for Medicaid coverage in Ohio:
- Be a United States citizen or meet Medicaid non-citizen requirements
- Individuals with low-income
- Pregnant women, infants, and children
- Older adults
- Individuals with disabilities
To be eligible for coverage, you must:
Coming 1/2027: Medicaid Group VIII
In July 2025, Congress passed H.R.1, which introduced changes to Medicaid eligibility through a new Work and Community Engagement Requirement for certain adults. This provision, set to take effect no later than January 1, 2027, requires some non-exempt Medicaid individuals ages 19-64 to demonstrate ongoing participation in work or community activities as a condition of eligibility.
The New Medicaid Group VIII Work and Community Engagement Requirement :
Who Is Affected: The requirement applies to some people who are covered in Group VIII (also known as MAGI Adult or Ribicoff coverage) — generally, adults ages 19–64 who have Medicaid because their income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. It only applies to Medicaid individuals that are part of Group VIII, who are not pregnant, not disabled, and not otherwise exempt (such as parents of young children, individuals with certain medical conditions, Native Americans, and others specified in H.R.1).
Exemptions: Some people will be exempt from the qualifying activities, including:
• Individuals under 19 or over 65,
• Pregnant or postpartum individuals,
• People who are eligible for Medicare,
• Caregivers of young children (13 or under) or disabled dependents,
• Individuals meeting SNAP or TANF work requirements,
• Those with disabilities or serious medical conditions,
• People participating in a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment program,
• Former inmates of a public institution during the last 3 months, and
• Native Americans and certain other groups.
Qualifying Activities: To maintain Medicaid eligibility, individuals must demonstrate that they meet one of the following in a given month:
• Worked at least 80 hours, which can be verified by income in some cases,
• Completed 80 hours of community service,
• Participated in a work program for 80 hours,
• Been enrolled half-time in an educational program, or
• Engaged in a combination of these activities totaling at least 80 hours.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) will provide more information when it is available. As CMS guidance is released and program details are confirmed, updated Partner Packets will be issued to support ongoing outreach. (Information provided by The Department of Medicaid)
Non-U.S. citizens may be eligible for Alien Emergency Medical Assistance or Refugee Medical Assistance.
Learn more about Medicaid programs and what to expect once you enroll.
(Information provided by The Department of Medicaid)
Important healthcare coverage information for Medicaid members
ATTN: Medicaid members - don't risk losing your health insurance
Visit our Medical Card page for more information on Medicaid.
The Medicaid Long Term Care and Waiver Programs provide medical assistance to individuals for placement in a skilled nursing facility or to individuals who need ongoing skilled care and wish to remain in their homes. Individuals must meet income and resource requirements to qualify for these programs and must be determined to have a need for an intermediate or skilled level of care. We work closely with hospital social workers, the Passport Agency, the Bureau of Community Services and local nursing homes to coordinate all available services for the individual and family. To learn more about Nursing Home Medicaid please visit the Nursing Home page.
Healthchek is Ohio’s Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. It provides an array of services to children and teens younger than age 21 which include: prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of Healthchek is to discover and treat health problems early. If a potential health problem is found, further diagnosis and treatment are covered. More detailed information can be obtained if you visit the Healthchek page.
Early and continual prenatal care plays an important role in positive pregnancy results and the birth of a healthy baby. The Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) program was developed to improve and maintain the health of pregnant women, increase their chances for healthier babies and promote positive birth outcomes. The enhanced services of the PRS program include referrals, individual pregnancy counseling and education, group education, case management, nutrition intervention, transportation to Medicaid appointments and delivery. Additional information about the Pregnancy Related Services Program can be found by clicking visiting the Pregnancy Services page.