Non-Citizen Medicaid Eligibility Changes Effective October 1, 2026
Beginning October 1, 2026, federal legislation changes Medicaid eligibility rules for non-citizens. Most non-citizens must have a qualifying immigration status and meet a five-year waiting period to receive full Medicaid benefits. Some groups are exempt from the five-year waiting period.
If You Already Receive Medicaid
Your Medicaid coverage can continue if you meet the updated eligibility requirements.
If you do not meet satisfactory immigration status requirements, your Medicaid coverage ends September 30, 2026.
Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security no longer provides automatic Medicaid eligibility. Non-citizens receiving these benefits must still meet the immigration-status requirements.
If You Apply on or After October 1, 2026
Full Medicaid eligibility is limited to:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
- Cuban or Haitian Entrants (CHE)
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) individuals
Most full-benefit non-citizens must wait five years after their qualifying status was granted before they are considered to have satisfactory immigration status.
No Five-Year Waiting Period For
- Lawfully residing children
- Pregnant women, including postpartum coverage
Who May Qualify for Full Medicaid on October 1
- Cuban-Haitian Entrants and COFA individuals
- LPRs with 40 qualifying quarters, or LPR status granted five or more years ago
- Lawfully residing children and pregnant or postpartum women
- Individuals who became LPRs after previously holding Refugee, Asylee, Withheld Deportation, Amerasian Immigrant, Victim of Trafficking, Afghan/Iraqi SIV, American Indian born in Canada with at least 50% American Indian blood, or membership in a federally recognized tribe
If Full Medicaid Is Not Available
People who are not U.S. citizens or nationals and do not have satisfactory immigration status may qualify for Non-Citizen Emergency Medical Assistance (NCEMA).
Need Help?
If you have questions about your Medicaid eligibility or coverage, contact Summit County Department of Job and Family Services at 844-640-OHIO (6446). You can also review additional information about Medicaid eligibility on our Who May Qualify for Medicaid? page.
