Thousands of Ohioans at Risk of Losing Medicaid Under New Federal Rules

Study estimates up to half of Ohio's Medicaid recipients could lose coverage due to new work requirements and eligibility checks.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:49am

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Following changes announced by the federal government to Medicaid, a new study estimates that between 4.9 and 10.1 million Americans could lose their Medicaid coverage. In Ohio, the study projects that up to 356,000 Medicaid recipients - around 50% of the state's total - could be dropped from the program as a result of the new federal work requirements and eligibility checks set to take effect in 2027.

Why it matters

The potential loss of Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans raises concerns about access to healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations who rely on the program. The changes could have significant impacts on public health outcomes and strain local healthcare systems.

The details

The new federal Medicaid rules, established under HB 1 or the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", include new work requirements for recipients and a mandatory six-month eligibility check-in process. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study predicts these changes will lead to the majority of the anticipated Medicaid coverage declines nationwide.

  • The new federal Medicaid rules are set to take effect in 2027.
  • Many states, including Ohio, are expected to begin implementing the new requirements earlier to save money.

The players

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

A nonpartisan health policy research organization that conducted the study estimating the potential Medicaid coverage losses.

HB 1

Also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", this federal legislation established the new Medicaid work requirements and eligibility check-in process.

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The takeaway

The potential loss of Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans raises serious concerns about healthcare access and public health outcomes in the state. Policymakers and healthcare providers will need to closely monitor the implementation of these new federal Medicaid rules and work to mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations.