Utah Medicaid: Who Qualifies, How to Apply, and What Is Changing in 2026 and 2027
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Utah Medicaid covers certain low-income pregnant women, children, adults who are elderly or have a disability, parents, and women with breast or cervical cancer, plus Adult Expansion Medicaid and Targeted Adult Medicaid, with income and other requirements. You can apply online through DWS's myCase portal or by calling 1-866-435-7414 (eligibility questions) or 1-866-608-9422 (other questions). Utah's Medicaid agency says that under the federal law known as HR 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, July 2025): adults in Adult Expansion and Targeted Adult coverage will need to show 80 hours a month of work, community service or education (with exclusions such as disability, pregnancy, and parents of children 13 and younger, and exemptions for American Indians and Alaska Natives); those adults will need eligibility reviews every six months and retroactive coverage shrinks starting January 1, 2027; and the definition of "qualified immigrant" narrows beginning fall 2026 (Utah DHHS FAQ for members, January 2026). Details were still being finalized when that FAQ was written, so check the state's pages for current rules.
Who this guide is for
Utah residents wondering whether they or their children qualify for Medicaid, and those whose coverage may change. This isn't legal advice, and eligibility depends on income, household, age, disability, citizenship or immigration status, and other factors. Programs and numbers change, and the state's lookup tool and caseworkers decide.
Programs listed by the state
Utah Medicaid's site lists programs including: Adult Expansion Medicaid, Targeted Adult Medicaid, Baby Your Baby (pregnancy), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), EPSDT (children's screening and treatment), Medicaid for Long-Term Care and Waiver Programs, Presumptive Eligibility, Spenddown (Medically Needy), Utah's Premium Partnership for Health Insurance (UPP), Autism Related Services, Living Well with Chronic Conditions, and others. Use the state's eligibility tools or call to see which program fits.
How to apply
- Online: the myCase portal (Department of Workforce Services). You may need documents such as a birth certificate.
- By phone: 1-866-435-7414 for eligibility questions.
- Pregnant? The state lists "Apply for Baby Your Baby."
- Keep your confirmation and respond to every request for information.
What the state says is changing (HR 1)
From the Utah DHHS FAQ for members (January 2026):
- Work / community engagement: for Adult Expansion and Targeted Adult Medicaid, 80 hours a month of work, community service or education, verified for eligibility, with exclusions (adults with disabilities, pregnant women, parents of children 13 and younger) and an exemption for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Utah submitted a waiver request on July 3, 2025 to CMS; whether and when the state starts earlier is for the state to announce.
- Six-month renewals for Adult Expansion and Targeted Adult members, starting January 1, 2027 (previously 12 months).
- Retroactive coverage reduced from three months to two months before application for most programs and to one month for Adult Expansion adults, starting January 1, 2027.
- Immigration: a narrower definition of "qualified immigrant" (lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association migrants), with the change affecting some people starting fall 2026. State CHIP will continue for qualifying children through June 2028, according to the FAQ.
- Unchanged for most: benefits for most children, adults with disabilities, and pregnant and postpartum women.
If you have a non-citizen status question, see Free and Low-Cost Immigration Legal Help in Utah.
If you're denied or cut off
You can request a fair hearing; deadlines are short. See Utah Medicaid Denied? How to Request a Fair Hearing.
Estate planning note for older adults
Medicaid can later seek repayment from a deceased member's estate for care received after age 55. See Utah Medicaid Estate Recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for Medicaid in Utah?
Online through the DWS myCase portal, or call 1-866-435-7414.
Does Utah have a work requirement for Medicaid?
Under HR 1 and the state's plans, adult expansion members will need to show 80 hours a month of work, community service or education, with exclusions; the state's waiver request is pending/planned, and the federal start is January 1, 2027. Check Utah Medicaid for the current start date.
Do I have to renew every year?
Currently yes for most; Adult Expansion and Targeted Adult members will renew every six months starting January 1, 2027.
Can I be covered for bills before I applied?
Retroactive coverage currently can reach back three months for most programs; that shrinks starting January 1, 2027.