How To Renew Or Re-enroll In Medicaid

Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter where we share information about all things Medicaid and other government assistance programs. There is a lot happening in the United States about Medicaid, particularly about who is eligible and expanding what Medicaid covers. Each week, we cover new topics to keep you up-to-date on what is available and free or subsidized to help you and your loved ones. We offer this information from federal government and state government points of view. Please continue to read this newsletter each week to learn about the breakdown of different services, how each state provides these services, what you may qualify for, if the services are free or subsidized, and more.

👩‍⚕️ Healthcare Basics

How Do I Renew or Re-enroll in Medicaid?

You may have heard or seen that it is time to renew your Medicaid coverage. If you receive a message stating you need to renew your Medicaid, you need to confirm you are still eligible for the program. The renewal process typically happens annually. During the renewal process, you typically need to update your personal and contact information. You also need to give any updates on household size, for example. If you still meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, your coverage will continue without interruption.

The process of Medicaid re-enrollment is different from the Medicaid renewal process. Re-enrollment is necessary when your coverage has expired or lapsed. If there is an interruption with your coverage but you are still eligible, you will most likely need to fill out another Medicaid application to demonstrate your eligibility. Some common examples of Medicaid interruption are: a person needs to re-enroll in Medicaid if coverage was terminated because the renewal was not completed on time.

A person needs to re-enroll in Medicaid if they become temporarily ineligible but gain eligibility again afterward.

What is this program❓

What is the Children’s Health Insurance Program?

CHIP stands for the Children's Health Insurance Program. It is a federally administered program that also partners with each state to manage and operate. CHIP provides health coverage to eligible children who come from families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but still cannot afford private insurance.

Each state must follow federal standards to provide essential health services to eligible children including routine check-ups, immunizations, doctor visits, prescriptions, dental and vision care, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, laboratory and X-ray services, and emergency services. Since states can manage and operate CHIP differently, some state CHIP programs offer mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and physical therapy. Additionally, some states offer CHIP coverage to pregnant women.

You can read more about it here.

https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/

✅ Do I qualify for this?

What other services do I qualify for if I am eligible to receive Medicaid or CHIP?

If you are eligible for Medicaid, you are most likely eligible for other federally-funded government assistance programs. However, some of these types of programs have specific eligibility criteria that states can alter, so it is important that you check with a trusted agency or organization that knows about social services to determine your eligibility and how to apply. People who are eligible for Medicaid are most likely also eligible to receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Sometimes referred to and formerly known as “food stamps'', SNAP provides financial assistance to individuals and families for food products. Your eligibility is based on income and sometimes other factors.

Here is also the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program that may be available for individuals who receive Medicaid. With varying eligibility criteria for each state, TANF provides financial assistance and can provide other support services such as childcare assistance to low-income families with children.

We will break down and go in more detail on these programs in future emails.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/opportunities-for-states-to-coordinate-medicaid-and-snap-renewals#:~:text=To%20qualify%20for%20SNAP%2C%20households,percent%20of%20the%20poverty%20line.

https://www.hhs.gov/answers/programs-for-families-and-children/what-is-tanf/index.html

📰 Top Programs News:

Incarcerated adults, North Carolina & Florida Updates.

On July 2, 2024, The United States Federal Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, made a decision to allow incarcerated adults and children to get Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage before they exit correctional facilities. This decision positively impacts individuals as they go through re-entry and will not have to apply for Medicaid upon release–they can apply and enroll up to 90 days before their release date. This decision impacts Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah and Vermont. States that already allow this type of coverage are California, Massachusetts, Montana, and Washington. This coverage includes substance use disorder treatment and behavioral health services.

https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2024-07-03-hhs-authorizes-five-states-provide-health-care-coverage-people-transitioning-out-incarceration#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Health%20and,and%20Vermont%20prior%20to%20release.

● North Carolina officials announced on Friday July 12, 2024 that more than 500,000 residents have enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program since it launched in December 2023. Under this new expansion program, individuals that make up to $20,000 a year, for instance, are now eligible to receive Medicaid coverage. A family of three with a combined income below $34,000 is another example of the expanded eligibility.

https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-expansion-enrollment-north-carolina-7e6d909c78c9e150afe81896d26eb649

● Florida: On July 11, 2024, a federal trial began a case that stems from a lawsuit filed against the state of Florida. The federal judge overseeing this case allowed it to continue as a class-action lawsuit against the state of Florida. The plaintiffs claim that the state of Florida used letters that contained complicated and unclear language to notify individuals they were being dropped from Medicaid. They also claim the letters lacked important information about how to appeal their involuntary disenrollments leaving them without any coverage for medical care. The plaintiffs argue the way the state of Florida clawed back the Medicaid coverage for individuals who received emergency Medicaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic violated their constitutional rights to due process and federal Medicaid law.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article288365995.html

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