How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in New Hampshire

Who runs New Hampshire Medicaid

Medicaid is a health program that the federal government and the state pay for together. It helps people with low incomes pay for care. In New Hampshire, the program is run by the Department of Health and Human Services, which people shorten to DHHS. The part of DHHS that handles it is the Division of Medicaid Services.

New Hampshire adopted Medicaid expansion, and the Kaiser Family Foundation lists the start date as August 15, 2014. The state calls its expansion program Granite Advantage, so your letters may use that name. Expansion means that adults can qualify based on income alone. They do not also need to be raising a child or have a disability. HealthCare.gov says the income line in an expansion state is 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That level is a yearly dollar amount the government uses to measure poverty. The dollar amount depends on how many people live in your home.

Other rules let children, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities qualify. Each group is explained in our guide on who qualifies for Medicaid.

Applying through NH EASY or by phone

NH EASY is the state's online system for managing benefits, and you can apply for Medicaid there. The same site also takes applications for cash help, SNAP food benefits and child care. If you would rather talk to a person, call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-275-3447. The number can also be written as 1-844-ASK-DHHS. The center answers Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. People who use a relay service for hearing loss can reach the center through the TDD Relay at 1-800-735-2964.

Your local DHHS District Office is another place to ask for help. The state's mailing address for the department is 129 Pleasant Street in Concord.

A trusted friend or relative can help you apply or manage your case. If so, the state asks you and your helper to fill out a form called the Authorized Representative Declaration, which is Form 778. The form gives your helper permission to speak with the state for you. It is a good idea to complete it before the helper makes a call.

No special season limits when you can apply for Medicaid. HealthCare.gov says you can apply for Medicaid and CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, at any time of year. Our guide on how to apply for Medicaid lists the papers to gather first, such as proof of income and a photo ID.

The 2027 Medicaid work rule

A new federal law adds a work rule, which the government calls a community engagement requirement. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called CMS, says states must generally start it by January 1, 2027. A state may pick an earlier date if it wants to. The rule is for adults ages 19 to 64 in the expansion group who are not pregnant and do not have Medicare.

Adults who are covered must show 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or school, or a mix of these. Going to school at least half time counts. So does earning at least $580 a month, which CMS says is the federal minimum wage times 80 hours for 2026.

Some people do not have to meet the rule. CMS lists parents and caregivers of a child 13 or younger as exempt. Other exemptions include people who are medically frail, people in treatment for drug or alcohol use and certain veterans. Our guide on the Medicaid work rule goes through the full list.

While you wait for a letter from DHHS, keep your pay stubs, school papers and volunteer records in one folder. Make sure the state has your current mailing address so that no letter gets lost.

When your income is too high for Medicaid

New Hampshire's Insurance Department says the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov is the place for federally regulated plans with financial help. The Marketplace is a website where you compare private plans, and your income decides how much help you get with the monthly cost. HealthCare.gov says Open Enrollment starts November 1. The Insurance Department also takes calls from people who already have coverage at 1-800-852-3416.

If you lost job-based coverage, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, which is a window to sign up outside the usual dates. Our guide to losing a job and losing insurance shows what to do first.

Community health centers and hospital bills

Community health centers are clinics funded by the federal government, and they serve everyone no matter what you can pay. Their prices follow your income and family size. To find one near you, enter your zip code in the Find a Health Center tool. It comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration, called HRSA. Then call and ask how a new patient signs up and what proof of income to bring.

Our guides on community health centers and sliding-scale clinics explain what to ask before your first visit. If you already have a hospital bill, read about hospital financial assistance to learn how to ask for a lower charge.

Checking a doctor's license

The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification runs a tool called New Hampshire Online Verification. Physician is one of the jobs you can search there, so you can confirm that a doctor holds a license before you book a visit.

Direct primary care and emergency care in New Hampshire

Some doctors in New Hampshire charge a flat monthly fee for primary care, and this is called direct primary care. Visits are not billed to insurance, and the fee usually does not cover hospital stays. You can search our directory of cash-pay doctors and ask each office for its fee in writing.

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. A federal law called EMTALA requires any hospital with an ER to check you, even if you cannot pay. Our guide to the emergency room without insurance explains what happens next.