2026 NH Legislation
Medicaid Bills We're Tracking
Everyone deserves the opportunity to stay healthy and contribute to their community. In the 2026 New Hampshire Legislative Session, lawmakers are considering several bills that would affect NH Medicaid — a program providing health coverage for working families, children, pregnant women, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. These bills come on the heels of major changes coming to the program due to new state and federal laws.
These policy decisions will impact our entire state: from keeping rural hospitals open to supporting local jobs, from ensuring children can attend school healthy and ready to learn to helping people stay working and contributing to New Hampshire's economy.
Below is an outline of what each bill does and how it could affect our communities.
JUMP TO: Medicaid Access | Medicaid Affordability | Impact
Medicaid Access
SB 134 and SB 506: Work Requirements for Medicaid
Expansion
WHAT THE BILLS DO
Bill Text: SB 134; Bill Text: SB 506
SB 134 and SB 506 move New Hampshire toward adding work requirements to the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, the state’s Medicaid expansion program. These bills will create rules for the work requirements — including how many hours adults will be required to work, what activities will count as work, and who will be exempt. Work requirements need to begin by the end of 2026, and when they do, adults will be required to work or participate in other approved activities to be eligible for Medicaid expansion.
WHY IT MATTERS
Work requirements can disrupt health care coverage even for people who are working, due to paperwork barriers or reporting challenges. In fact, data shows that 92% of adults covered by Medicaid are working, or caring for a child or loved one, managing an illness or disability, or attending school. Adding new work requirements creates unnecessary obstacles to keeping coverage and puts thousands of Granite Staters at risk of losing their health insurance.
BILL STATUS
​
Start Date: July 1, 2025 - This law is currently in effect.
WHAT THE BILL DOES
Bill Text: SB 484
SB 484 would eliminate the new monthly premiums soon to be required for coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Granite Advantage Health Care Program (NH Medicaid Expansion). It would also limit any out-of-pocket costs for medical services (known as cost-sharing) to no more than $5 per service for adults enrolled in the Granite Advantage Health Care Program (NH Medicaid Expansion).
​
WHY IT MATTERS
These new costs, signed into state and federal law in 2025, will make it harder for individuals and families to afford their Medicaid coverage and treatment. When health care is affordable, people can get preventive care and treatment before conditions worsen. This helps keep people working and productive, reduces emergency room visits, and lowers overall health care costs for everyone.
BILL STATUS
Medicaid Affordability
SB 484: Limiting New Medicaid Costs
HB 1760: Stopping Medicaid Cost Increases
WHAT THE BILL DOES
Bill Text: HB 1760
HB 1760 would roll back upcoming prescription cost increases for adults enrolled in the Granite Advantage Health Care Program (NH Medicaid Expansion), as well as monthly premiums for Granite Advantage and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These increases were approved in New Hampshire’s 2026-27 state budget, but haven't taken effect yet.
WHY IT MATTERS
When medications are affordable, people can manage chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and heart disease effectively. This keeps people healthy and working, prevents more serious health problems, reduces emergency room visits, and lowers overall health care costs for our communities.
BILL STATUS
Impacts
HB 1794: Studying the Impact of NH Medicaid Changes
WHAT THE BILL DOES
Bill Text: HB 1794
HB 1794 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to study and report on how recent NH Medicaid policy changes affect access to health care across our communities. This includes examining:
-
How many Granite Staters experience changes to their health care coverage
-
Effects on hospitals, community health centers, mental health centers, and other health care providers across the state
-
Impact on New Hampshire’s state budget and local communities
-
And more!
WHY IT MATTERS
The Medicaid policy changes resulting from new state and federal laws will have far-reaching impacts, affecting everyone in New Hampshire. Due to work requirements alone, an estimated 20,000 Granite Staters, or about 35 percent of people enrolled in Granite Advantage, will lose their coverage. Medicaid is also the largest source of funding for mental health and substance use care, and a large source of revenue brought back to New Hampshire. The state may lose $2.3 billion over the next 10 years from federal Medicaid expenditures, shifting more costs to the state. Further, Medicaid creates jobs, supports our workforce, helps keep rural hospitals open, and reduces uncompensated care.
Understanding the real-world impacts of these policy changes will help us all make informed decisions that support community health and economic stability. This ensures we have the data needed to strengthen the systems our communities rely on.
BILL STATUS
