State to Share Medicaid Caregiver Exemption Details
Connecticut's Department of Social Services will explain how caregivers can document exemptions from new federal Medicaid work requirements.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Child Care
The Connecticut Department of Social Services plans to share information on documenting Medicaid caregiver exemptions toward the end of December. New federal work requirements for HUSKY D enrollees ages 19 to 64 take effect January 1, 2027.
Why it matters
A federal law imposes work requirements on many Medicaid recipients, with exemptions for certain caregivers of children under 14 or people with disabilities. The state says it does not want to disrupt home care networks and supports for people receiving care at home.
Non-relative caregivers must provide at least 80 hours of assistance per month to qualify for the exemption, and the state's documentation process is expected by late December. Federal guidance on caregiver documentation for 2028 has not yet been issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The players
Connecticut Department of Social Services
The state agency that administers Connecticut's Medicaid program, including the HUSKY D coverage affected by the new federal work requirements.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency that oversees Medicaid and is expected to issue guidance on caregiver documentation requirements for 2028.
The details
Caregivers with HUSKY D coverage whose renewal falls after January 2027 must complete an attestation, which can be done by checking a box in the online portal or by phone with Access Health CT. Eligible caregivers include parents, guardians, caretaker relatives, and family caregivers of a child under 14 or a person with a disability, and hours of caregiving can be combined with work, volunteering, and school.
Timeline
End of December 2026: State shares caregiver exemption documentation process information.
January 1, 2027: New Medicaid work requirements take effect for HUSKY D enrollees ages 19 to 64.
2028: Federal documentation requirements for caregivers are expected.
Health Landscape
The federal work requirements in Medicaid represent a major shift in how states administer coverage for working-age adults. Connecticut's caregiver exemption framework shows how state programs are adapting federal rules to protect home care arrangements.
Connecticut caregivers who care for children under 14 or people with disabilities may avoid losing HUSKY D coverage if they document their exemption. Those who care for a non-relative must provide at least 80 hours of assistance per month, and hours can be combined with work or school.
The takeaway
Caregivers who support children or people with disabilities should check whether they qualify for an exemption before their HUSKY D renewal date. Keeping records of caregiving hours can help document eligibility when the state's process is available.
What happens next
Caregivers with HUSKY D coverage should watch for the state's documentation process information in late December 2026, ahead of the January 1, 2027 start of the new work requirements.
Further reading
For more on family support programs, explore Child Care coverage in Connecticut.
More information
Find Connecticut DSS Medicaid information on the state's Medicaid resource site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Connecticut Public.
