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Medicaid plays an important role in providing access to care for individuals and families with limited income, as well as for people with certain health needs.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides free or low-cost health care coverage to qualified individuals and families with low incomes. This includes children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Medicaid is the largest public health insurance program in the country. It helps pay for a wide range of health care services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medications, and preventive care. It also provides long-term care for people with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Medicaid Expansion in Kentucky
Many states, including Kentucky, expanded Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. This expansion extended coverage to more low-income individuals and families, including adults without dependent children who may not have previously qualified.
As a result, non-pregnant adults in Kentucky with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible for Medicaid. Pregnant individuals with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level may also qualify.
Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP)
The Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) provides coverage for uninsured children.
Through KCHIP, children under age 19 can receive services such as doctor visits, immunizations, dental care, and prescription medications. KCHIP is available to eligible children in households with incomes up to 218% of the federal poverty level.
Recent Federal Changes
In July 2025, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which includes significant changes to Medicaid. Along with changes to the Marketplace, an estimated 17 million Americans, and 200,000-350,000 Kentuckians, are projected to lose health care coverage as a result of this law.
Key changes include reduced funding for providers, new copay and work requirements for many Medicaid beneficiaries, more frequent Medicaid eligibility reviews (every six months instead of annually), and new limits on eligibility for some lawfully present immigrants.
Medicaid Today
Medicaid provides health care coverage to millions of Americans, particularly those who may otherwise have limited access to care.
Recent policy changes will affect who qualifies for coverage and how long that coverage can be maintained. They will also create additional barriers to care, even for those who remain enrolled.
For individuals and families who rely on Medicaid, these changes make it even more important to stay informed about eligibility and coverage requirements.
For a more in-depth look at Medicaid and the changes coming due to OBBBA, click here to watch our webinar.
These and associated educational materials have been developed using our available resources. They are not intended to serve as advice or recommendations on selecting a specific type of coverage or plan. Any errors or omissions are unintentional.
These materials were supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103.
The contents of these materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.