How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in Kentucky

Medicaid in Kentucky and who runs it

The Department for Medicaid Services runs Kentucky Medicaid, and it sits inside the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The state describes the program as health coverage for low-income adults and children, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities.

According to KFF, a health policy research group, Kentucky expanded Medicaid in 2014. Adults under 65 can qualify when their income is up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That level is the government's yearly dollar line for poverty. It goes up with the size of your household.

Children can qualify at higher incomes through Medicaid and a related program called KCHIP. Pregnant people also have a higher income limit. Our Medicaid eligibility guide explains each of these groups in more detail.

Applying through kynect, with free help

Kentucky runs its own health insurance website, called kynect. You can apply for Medicaid there, and you can also shop for private plans there. If you would rather talk to someone, the phone number for kynect is 1-855-459-6328.

There are other ways to apply as well. You can visit a local Department for Community Based Services office, often shortened to DCBS, or call DCBS at 1-855-306-8959. A paper form can also be mailed or faxed, and the state lists the address on its Medicaid site.

A free helper called a kynector can sit with you for a one-on-one session. The Kentucky Primary Care Association runs this program. A kynector helps with Medicaid, KCHIP, private plans, SNAP and other aid. If you are not sure what to bring, our guide to how to apply for Medicaid has a list.

The 2027 work and activity rule, step by step

Kentucky calls its rule Medicaid Work or Community Engagement, or MACE for short. The state says it begins January 1, 2027. It applies to adults ages 19 to 64 who have Medicaid only because of their income, unless they are exempt.

Each month you need to show that you do one of these things.

• Do 80 hours of work, job training, volunteering, part-time school, or a mix of these.
• Go to school at least half-time, which also meets the rule.
• Earn at least $580 a month, or an average of $580 a month for seasonal work.

New applicants are checked for the month before they apply. Current members are checked for at least 3 of the 6 months before their renewal date. The state first looks at records it already has. If it needs more, it will contact you, and you may need to fill out a form. For 2027, a signed statement from you is allowed, but you should keep a monthly record of your hours.

Plenty of people are exempt from the rule. The state lists caregivers of a child 13 or younger and people on SSI or SSDI. It also lists pregnant people, veterans with a total disability rating, and members of federally recognized tribes. People who are medically frail are exempt too, which means they have a health problem that makes work hard.

If you do not meet the rule, you get a notice and have 30 days to respond. Current members keep coverage during those 30 days. You can also file an appeal if you disagree with a decision. Our work requirement guide has more on this.

Keeping your coverage

Members can update their information and check their renewal date through the kynect self-service portal. It helps to do this now, because a notice sent to an old address can be missed. Keep pay stubs, school papers or volunteer letters in one folder.

Kentucky tried work rules before, including a plan called Kentucky HEALTH and a 2022 state law. According to healthinsurance.org, neither one ever took effect. This new rule is different because it comes from federal law.

What if I earn too much?

If your income is above the Medicaid limit, you can compare private plans on kynect and see whether you get a tax credit. A tax credit is a payment from the government that lowers your monthly plan cost. Extra credits that came from a pandemic-era law ended after 2025. The old 400 percent of poverty cap is back for 2026, so help is smaller for some middle-income households. Our guide on health insurance without a job covers your options after a layoff.

Community health centers in Kentucky

The Kentucky Primary Care Association, founded in 1976, works with the state's community health centers and rural health clinics. Health centers set their fees by income and family size. To find one near you, use the Find a Health Center tool, which is free. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration, called HRSA, offers it. Enter your zip code in the tool to see the closest sites.

Call the center and ask what a first visit costs and which papers show your income. Our community health center guide has a list of good questions to ask.

Checking a Kentucky doctor's license

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure offers an online verification service. It lets you look up basic information about physicians and several other professions, including physician assistants. You can find it by searching for Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure license lookup.

Direct primary care and emergencies

You may find doctors in Kentucky who offer direct primary care. In this model you pay a doctor a flat monthly fee, and that fee is not insurance. You can find cash-pay doctors near you in our directory. Read the agreement so you know which visits and tests it covers.

For anything that feels like an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The hospital has to examine and stabilize you under federal law, with or without insurance.