Under H.R.1, doing the work is not enough by itself. You also have to report it. The reporting step is where many people get tripped up, and it is the leading reason eligible members end up losing coverage. This post walks through how reporting typically works and how to protect yourself.
How reporting usually works
Most states will offer several ways to report your qualifying hours: an online portal, a phone line, a mobile-friendly site, or a paper form mailed back to the agency. You will usually report monthly. What you report depends on your activity. If you are employed, that might mean pay stubs or an employer's confirmation of hours. If you are volunteering or in a training program, it might mean a signed verification from the organization.
Some states can verify certain activities automatically using data they already have, such as wage records. If that applies to you, you may not have to do anything. But you should never assume automatic verification covers you. Confirm it.
The deadlines that matter
Enforcement begins by January 1, 2027, and the first official notices go out during the member-notice window from about June 30 to August 31, 2026. Once reporting is active, missing a monthly deadline can put you in a non-compliant status. Depending on the state, repeated months of non-reporting can lead to disenrollment, meaning you lose your coverage even if you actually met the hours.
Remember the Arkansas experience: about 18,000 people, roughly one in four of those subject to the rules, lost coverage in a matter of months. Confusing systems and missed reporting, not refusal to work, drove most of those losses.
Five habits that protect your coverage
First, update your contact information now so notices reach you. Second, mark a recurring reminder each month to report, even before the rules take effect, so the habit is in place. Third, save proof of your activity in one folder, digital or paper, so you are never scrambling. Fourth, if you are confused by a notice, call your state Medicaid office or a local community health center for help rather than ignoring it. Fifth, never throw away mail from Medicaid. A single unopened envelope can be the difference between keeping and losing your health coverage.