Medicaid (Ohio)
Last updated August 2026
Ohio expanded Medicaid. Adults qualify on income alone: 133 percent of poverty plus a 5 percent disregard, about $1,836 a month for one person, $3,796 for four. More than 3 million Ohioans are covered. Apply at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov, call 844-640-6446, or file form ODM 07216 at your county JFS office.
Other doors reach higher: pregnant women to 200 percent of poverty ($2,461 a month for one), kids under 6 to 141 percent (ages 6 to 18 at 107), with CHIP stretching to 206 for all kids, and aged, blind, or disabled Ohioans at SSI levels.
Two features worth real money. Coverage can reach back: approval applies from your application date, and up to 3 months earlier for existing medical bills. And decisions come within 45 days, or 90 when disability must be determined.
Most members get care through a Next Generation managed care plan. You are auto-assigned, with 90 days to switch at ohiomh.com or the Consumer Hotline, 800-324-8680 (weekdays 7 to 8, Saturdays too). Renewals run yearly, electronic-first. Report changes within 10 days.
One honest note for older adults: estate recovery means the state seeks repayment from your estate for care received after age 55, with exceptions for surviving spouses and certain children. Appeals of eligibility decisions get 90 days through the state hearing system.
Phone 1-844-640-6446
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Adults 19-64 who are Ohio residents with income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level qualify under the Group VIII adult category
- Children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities have their own rules; one Ohio Benefits application checks them all. Ohio is adding a work or community engagement requirement for some Group VIII adults, with exemptions, so ask about current rules when you apply
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov, call 844-640-6446, or file form ODM 07216 (or the combined JFS 07200) at your county JFS office.
- 2
Tell them about medical bills from the last 3 months; retroactive coverage can pay them.
- 3
Pregnant? Say so; the income line is higher and coverage moves faster.
- 4
Expect a decision within 45 days, or 90 for disability determinations.
- 5
Pick or switch your managed care plan within 90 days at ohiomh.com or 800-324-8680.
- 6
Report changes (income, address, pregnancy, other insurance) within 10 days, and answer annual renewal mail.
- 7
Denied? Request a state hearing within 90 days: hearings.jfs.ohio.gov/share or 866-635-3748.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What is the income limit for Ohio Medicaid?
For adults, 133 percent of poverty plus a 5 percent disregard: effectively about $1,836 a month for one person, $3,796 for four. Pregnant women reach $2,461 for one, and children's coverage goes higher through CHIP.
Can Medicaid pay bills from before I applied?
Yes: coverage applies from your application date and can reach back up to 3 months for prior medical bills if you qualified then. Mention the bills when you apply.
How long does a decision take?
Within 45 days, or up to 90 when a disability determination is needed.
How do managed care plans work?
Most members are auto-assigned a Next Generation plan and get 90 days to pick a different one, at ohiomh.com or 800-324-8680, plus an annual open enrollment.
What is estate recovery?
For care received after age 55 (or while permanently institutionalized), the state seeks repayment from your estate after death, with exceptions for surviving spouses and certain children. Worth knowing before long-term care decisions.
How do I appeal?
Eligibility decisions go to a state hearing: request within 90 days at hearings.jfs.ohio.gov/share or 866-635-3748. Plan-level service denials go through your managed care plan's appeal process first.
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