Medicaid Work or Community Engagement (MACE) Requirements
Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 to 64 will need to meet a new work or community engagement requirement to apply for or keep their Medicaid coverage. This applies to those enrolled in Medicaid based only on their income, also known as
Medicaid Expansion.
The Medicaid work or community engagement requirements are based on what you were already doing before you applied for or renewed your coverage. This means you must be working or doing community engagement activities for at least 80 hours per month when you apply for or renew your Medicaid coverage.
Note: Certain people are exempt, including people who are pregnant, have a disability or serious health condition, or provide care for a child age 13 or younger or for someone with a disability. See below for more information about exemptions and short-term hardships.
MACE Resources
MACE Forms
Starting in 2027, Medicaid will check available information to see if you meet the requirements for or qualify for an exemption to work or community engagement. If we need more information, you will be contacted and may need to submit one of the forms listed below. Please check back as copies of the forms will be available soon.
- Verification of Work or Community Engagement Non-Wage Activity (MACE-100)
- Verification of Medical Condition Exemption for Medicaid Work or Community Engagement Requirement (MACE-200)
- Medicaid Work or Community Engagement Short-Term Hardship Exemption Request Form (MACE-300)
MACE Frequently Asked Questions
We know you may have questions about MACE. Click the topics below to learn more about what MACE is, how it may impact you, and the steps you can take now to make sure you stay covered.
- To qualify, you must work or complete community engagement activities for at least 80 hours per month.
- If you are applying for Medicaid, you must show you met the work or community engagement activities in the month before you apply.
- If you are a current Medicaid member, you must show you met the work or community engagement requirement for at least three of the six months before you renew your coverage.
- You may need to meet the requirement if all the following apply to you.
- You are age 19 to 64.
- You qualify for Medicaid based only on income.
- You are not exempt.
You will be asked to report the work or community engagement activities you did when you renew your coverage in 2027.
- It is important to know your renewal date. You can check your renewal date in kynect benefits.
- You must work or complete community engagement activities for three of the six months before your renewal date.
- For example, if your renewal is due in February 2027, you must work or do community engagement activities for at least three of the months between August 2026 and February 2027.
If you apply for Medicaid on or after January 1, 2027, and must report work or community engagement activities, you must work or do community engagement in the month before you apply.
For 2027, you may provide Self-Attestation or Client Statement to verify you meet these requirements or are exempt.
You do not have to meet the requirement if we can document that you are one of the following:
- 18 or younger.
- 65 or older.
- Former foster care youth up to age 26.
- Member of a federally recognized tribe (American Indian or Alaska Native).
- A parent, guardian, or caregiver and actively involved in the care of:
- A child 13 or younger; or
- A person of any age with a disability.
- A Veteran with a total disability rating.
- Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Social Security Retirement (SSR) due to disability.
- Entitled or enrolled in Medicare Part A or enrolled in Part B.
- Medically frail or have a serious or complex medical condition, including a disability, mental health condition, or substance use disorder, that impacts your ability to complete community engagement requirements.
- Meeting the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program work requirements.
- Live in a household that is meeting and not exempt from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements.
- In a treatment program for mental health or substance use disorder.
- An inmate of a public institution now or was incarcerated in the past three months.
- Pregnant or in the 12-month postpartum period.
- You may be able to get a short-term exception in certain situations. A short-term hardship exception means you do not have to meet the community engagement requirement for a month if you have a temporary hardship in that month. You may qualify if:
- You are staying in a hospital or nursing facility.
- You or your dependent must travel away from home for medical care that is not available in your community because of a serious or complex medical condition.
- You live in an area with very high unemployment.
- You live in an area affected by a federally declared emergency or disaster, such as a major flood, tornado, or other natural disaster.
- A short-term hardship exception is temporary. When the hardship ends, you may need to meet the community engagement requirement again if it still applies to you. When it is time to renew your Medicaid coverage or when you apply for Medicaid, you will receive instructions on how to request a short-term hardship exception if you think you qualify.
- Completing at least 80 hours per month of:
- Work.
- Job training or a work program.
- Volunteering or community service.
- Going to school part-time.
- Any combination of the activities above that adds up to 80 hours.
- Going to school at least half-time, including high school, college, or career and technical education.
- Earning $580 a month, or if your work is seasonal, earning an average of $580 over the last 6 months.
Starting in 2027, Medicaid will check available information to see if you meet the requirements or qualify for an exemption. You will be contacted if more information is needed. If you need help determining if you meet the requirement or not, a kynector can help. You can call 1-855-459-6328 or visit the
kynect website and select "Get Local Help" from the top of the page.
When you apply or renew your Medicaid, we will let you know whether you must meet the work or community engagement requirement.
If you do not meet the requirements or qualify for an exemption:
- You will receive a noncompliance notice.
- You will have 30 days to provide information.
- If you are currently enrolled in Medicaid, your coverage will continue for those 30 days.
It is important to respond within 30 days. If you do not respond, your Medicaid application may be denied, or you may lose Medicaid Coverage.
You have the right to appeal any eligibility decision. Appeal instructions will be included in your Notice of Eligibility. You may also reapply for coverage at any time.
While you will be notified if these Medicaid changes apply to you, there are steps you can take now to help you keep your coverage.
- Please keep your information up to date with Kentucky Medicaid. You can update it by:
- Logging into the
Self-Service Portal
- Calling kynect at 1-855-459-6328 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
- Calling the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) at 1-855-306-8959 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Calling or visiting a kynector - Search for a kynector
- Visiting a DCBS office - Find a DCBS office
- Check your mail, email, and texts. If you receive mail, an email, or a text from Kentucky Medicaid, be sure to follow the directions it gives you and respond quickly.
- Know your renewal date so you know when to watch for mail, emails or texts.
- Track your activities. Keep a record of any work, volunteer, job training, or school hours you complete each month. If you start now, you will be ready to show Kentucky Medicaid that you meet the requirements when it’s time for your renewal.
- Gather documents. Begin gathering important medical or legal documents so you are ready if you need to show Kentucky Medicaid that you qualify for an exemption.
- Follow up with Kentucky Medicaid. You can call us at 1-855-459-5328 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET to find out what you need to do to keep your coverage.
- Stay updated on what's happening at Kentucky Medicaid by registering for or watching the
Medicaid Monthly Forum or following us on social media.
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Need Help with MACE?
If you have questions about Medicaid Work or Community Engagement, there is help available.
- Call kynect at 1-855-459-6328 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
- Call or visit a kynector - Search for a kynector
- Call the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) at 1-855-306-8959 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
- Visit a DCBS office - Find Your Local DCBS Office
Medicaid Changes
Medicaid work or community engagement is part of a federal law passed in July 2025. The law also changes who can receive Medicaid, how often some members must renew their coverage, and requires cost-sharing for services. Please visit our Medicaid Changes website to learn more about what is in the federal law and how it may affect you.