What to Do if Your Medicaid Expires
If you missed the deadline to renew your Medicaid coverage, you can reapply for Medicaid to get benefits again.
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Unlike regular health insurance, you can apply for Medicaid at any time of the year. That's because Medicaid does not have a limited open enrollment period.
But if you're no longer eligible for Medicaid, the easiest way to get coverage is to buy an Affordable Care Act (ACA), or "Obamacare," health insurance plan from HealthCare.gov or your state's health insurance marketplace.
How to renew your Medicaid
You can usually renew your Medicaid online, over the phone, by mail or in person. Keep in mind that if you renew online, you'll have to go through your state's Medicaid website and not Medicaid.gov.
Make sure to have the following information on hand before you start the renewal process.
- Total household income
- Dates of birth for everyone in your household
- Social Security numbers (SSNs) for all applicants
- Immigration information (if applicable)
Some states may require more or different information, such as a tax return or pay stub, along with your renewal forms.
Try to renew your Medicaid before it expires to avoid a gap in your coverage.
When does Medicaid expire?
Medicaid expires every year. However, when you can renew is different for everyone and depends on when you started getting Medicaid benefits.
You should get a notice in the mail before you can renew. This letter will have instructions that will guide you through the Medicaid renewal process. It's a good idea to get in touch with your state's Medicaid agency online or over the phone to make sure it has your most recent address on file.
It's important to remember that Medicaid is run by both federal and state governments. Certain rules and procedures will differ depending on where you live.
Eligibility requirements also vary by state. If you live in one of the 10 states that don't have expanded Medicaid, then to qualify for Medicaid you must have a low income and meet a secondary eligibility requirement such as being pregnant, being disabled or having children under 19.
States without expanded Medicaid
- Texas
- Kansas
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin
- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
These differences between states mean that you may have a more difficult time renewing or reapplying for Medicaid depending on where you live.
Obamacare vs. Medicaid
If you're no longer eligible for Medicaid, your best option is usually to buy a plan through HealthCare.gov or your state health insurance marketplace. Even if you make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, you may qualify for what are called marketplace subsidies, which can drastically lower the amount you pay for health insurance.
Also, you can qualify for extra help if you earn a low income and buy a Silver health plan. The extra subsidies, also called cost-sharing reductions, help cover the part of your medical bill that you're responsible for paying. They're available if you make between $15,960 and $39,900 as a single person or $33,000 and $82,500 as a family of four.
To sign up for a marketplace plan, people sometimes have to wait until the open enrollment period, which typically runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.
But if you have a qualifying event like losing health coverage, you can apply for a marketplace plan using a special enrollment period two months before or two months after the event.
Frequently asked questions
What should you do if your Medicaid expires?
You can reapply for Medicaid if your coverage has already expired. However, it's a good idea to renew your Medicaid benefits before they expire to avoid a period when you're not insured.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid anymore, consider signing up for an Affordable Care Act (ACA), or "Obamacare," marketplace health plan.
When does Medicaid expire?
Medicaid expires every year, although the exact expiration date is different for each person since your renewal date depends on when you first signed up. You can contact your state's Medicaid agency online, over the phone or in person to find out when your benefits are up for renewal.
What is the monthly income limit for Medicaid?
In 2026, the Medicaid monthly income limit is for $1,835 for a single person ($22,025 per year) or $3,795 for a family of four ($45,540 per year). Medicaid income limits change each year to reflect changes in the federal poverty level.
Sources and methodology
Information about Medicaid income limits is from KFF and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid unwinding statistics are from KFF, and Medicaid renewal requirements were taken from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
About the Author
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
Credentials
- Licensed Life & Disability Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
