The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is sending letters to nearly 700,000 Medicaid enrollees about federal work requirements that begin Jan. 1, 2027. The department is also reaching people by text message and recorded phone call, and it says enrollees who do not meet the new rules or qualify for an exemption could lose their coverage.
The rules apply to many adults ages 19 to 64, who will need to show 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, job training, or school unless they qualify for an exemption. For families juggling jobs, caregiving, and appointments, the first steps are simple: know which messages are official, keep contact information current, and start saving records now.
The stakes are higher for households that move often, share phones, or change numbers. A letter sent to an old address or a text to a disconnected phone can go unanswered, and a missed request can lead to a coverage gap that is harder to fix later.
Recognizing Official Messages From PA DHS
DHS announced the letter campaign in a news release on Sept. 10. "For the first time ever, some Pennsylvania Medicaid recipients will need to verify they are working to receive health coverage," said Dr. Val Arkoosh, the state's secretary of human services. The department says its materials are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese.
According to the department's Medicaid changes FAQ, text messages from DHS come from the short code 69217, and recorded calls come from 1-877-839-4782.
Arkoosh told WVIA that the state is "doing everything in our power to keep people connected to their healthcare through Medicaid, but we need their partnership in this work." She added that, first and foremost, everybody needs to read their mail. Nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians are covered by Medicaid, though only some of them will face the new requirement.
Scam Callers May Copy State Outreach
A large wave of official messages can give cover to fraud. The DHS FAQ states that "PA DHS will never ask you to provide personal information about you or your benefits over text message." A text asking for a Social Security number, bank details, or a login code is a warning sign. So is pressure to act within minutes or a threat that coverage ends today.
A Federal Trade Commission consumer alert on spotting Medicaid scams notes that "Medicaid won't charge you to renew or enroll." Anyone demanding a fee, a gift card, or a payment app transfer to keep coverage is not the state.
When in doubt, enrollees can skip links in unexpected messages and check their case directly through COMPASS or by calling the DHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930, or 215-560-7226 in Philadelphia. Suspected scams can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.
Who Must Meet the Rule and Who Is Exempt
The requirement covers adults 19 to 64 in the Medicaid expansion group who do not have dependent children under 14. The 80 monthly hours can come from paid work, volunteering, job training, school at least half-time, or a mix. Enrollees who earn at least 80 times the federal minimum wage, or $580 a month in 2026, also meet the standard, according to the federal CMS rule.
Exemptions listed on the DHS Medicaid changes page include parents and caretakers of children under 14 or of people with disabilities, pregnant and postpartum people, medically frail people, veterans with a total disability rating, people in substance use disorder treatment, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal members, people meeting SNAP or TANF work requirements, and former foster youth under 26. Short-term hardships, such as a recent hospitalization, may also qualify.
Some adults in this group will renew their coverage every six months instead of once a year. New applicants must show they met the requirement in the month before they apply. Someone applying in March, for example, will need to show they met it in February.
The Shapiro administration estimated in July 2025 that about 310,000 Pennsylvanians could lose Medicaid under the federal changes, a figure the conservative Commonwealth Foundation has disputed.
Records Worth Gathering Before Renewal
The first task is making sure the state can reach you. Enrollees can update a mailing address, phone number, and email through the COMPASS benefits website or the myCOMPASS PA app, and anyone who has moved can also file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service.
Record-keeping comes next. The DHS FAQ says that in 2027, most activities and exemptions can be confirmed by answering questions on an application or renewal, but "paid work must always be verified," such as with a pay stub. Starting in 2028, enrollees will need to provide proof of other activities and exemptions as well.
That makes it sensible to keep pay stubs, volunteer hour logs, school enrollment letters, and job training records in one place. People who may qualify as medically frail or disabled can ask their doctor about documentation now. Under the federal rule, enrollees who receive a notice that they have not met the requirement get 30 days to show they are in compliance before losing coverage.
Current enrollees will move to the new rules after their next renewal in or after February 2027. Help is available from County Assistance Offices, the DHS HR1 FAQ Line at 1-877-883-6383, and local nonprofits. Anyone unsure whether a message is genuine should verify it before responding.
Key Questions Answered
When do Pennsylvania's Medicaid work rules start? Jan. 1, 2027. Current enrollees transition after their next renewal in or after February 2027.
How can I tell if a text or call is really from DHS? Official texts come from the short code 69217, and recorded calls come from 1-877-839-4782. DHS says it will never ask for personal information about you or your benefits by text.
Who is exempt? Exemptions include parents and caretakers of children under 14, pregnant and postpartum people, medically frail people, and several other groups listed by DHS.
What should I do now? Update your contact details in COMPASS, read every DHS letter, and save pay stubs and activity records.
Does Medicaid charge to renew? No. The FTC says Medicaid will not charge you to renew or enroll.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
