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To learn about SoonerCare's citizenship requirements, view our eligibility guidelines. Para obtener más información sobre los requisitos de ciudadanía de SoonerCare, consulte nuestras pautas de elegibilidad. 

Work Requirements

WORK REQUIREMENTS START JAN. 1, 2027

Who is Affected?

  • Applies to expansion adults ages 19-64 who are not otherwise exempt.
  • Work requirements do not apply to:
    • Individuals entitled to or enrolled in Medicare
    • Children 18 years old and younger
    • Adults 65 years old or older
    • Foster and former foster youth 25 and younger
    • Pregnant and postpartum women
    • Parents or caretakers of children 13 years old and younger
    • Parents or caretakers of individuals with disabilities
    • American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals
    • Veterans with a disability rated total/100%
    • Individuals who are medically frail
    • Blind or disabled individuals
    • Those with a substance use disorder or disabling mental disorder
    • Individuals with a serious or complex medical condition
    • Participants in a qualifying addiction or alcohol treatment program
    • Individuals who meet TANF work requirements, or receive SNAP and are subject to SNAP work requirements
    • Individuals currently incarcerated or incarcerated within the last 3 months
  • Members may request short-term exceptions. OHCA will provide additional information on the process to request one. The short-term hardship exceptions are:
    • Individuals receiving inpatient hospital, nursing facility, ICF/IID, inpatient psychiatric, or other similar inpatient or outpatient services.
    • Individuals who must travel outside their community for an extended period to receive necessary medical treatment for a serious or complex medical condition. This also applies when the individual's dependent must travel for such treatment.
    • Individuals residing in a county where an emergency or disaster has been declared by the President. OHCA must obtain federal approval before this specific exception can be utilized.
    • Individuals residing in a county that has an unemployment rate that is at or above the lesser of 8 percent or 1.5 times the national employment rate. OHCA must obtain federal approval before this specific exception can be utilized.

View the screener at right to see if you may be impacted.

What is Required?

  • Requires 80 hours per month or demonstration of minimum monthly income. Hours can be through employment, community service/work programs and/or educational programs.
  • SoonerCare/Medicaid members are given 30 days to demonstrate compliance after initial adverse determination.

What Should I Do Right Now?

  1. Update your information: Make sure your phone number, address and email are up to date at MySoonerCare.org.
  2. Watch your mail and email: Check your mail and email for letters from SoonerCare or OHCA with more instructions.
  3. Review resources: If you need help finding a job or enrolling in school, view the resources below.

Resources

Work Requirements Screener

How do I know if I have to do the work requirements? 
Starting in January 2027, a new law says some SoonerCare members must work or help in their community to keep their health coverage. 

What should you do next? 
Answer a few short questions to see if this rule may apply to you. 
This is only an estimate. It is not an application or a final decision. We do not save or use your information. 

Last Modified on Aug 12, 2026
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