Texans on Medicaid Urged To Take Steps To Avoid Disenrollment

Low-income seniors and other Texans who rely on Medicaid for health coverage are urged to be on the lookout for notices from the state government to maintain their eligibility in the program.

The priority attention to enrollment paperwork arises due to sweeping nationwide policy changes that are being deployed especially fast in Texas.

Just months ago, over 90 million Americans, including 5 million Texans, were enrolled in Medicaid, which helps cover costs for such things as hospital services, doctor visits, and transportation to medical care and more.

Like Medicare, Medicaid has been around since 1965, providing a lifeline for many families. Medicaid rolls grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic under an emergency policy by the Trump and Biden administrations. For three years during the pandemic, people did not have to go through any kind of renewal process to stay on Medicaid.

That changed in April, and now every state is winnowing its Medicaid rolls. There’s a yearlong process underway for states to determine who should remain on Medicaid and move those who do not onto other state programs or into the public health insurance marketplace.

Texas is among the first states to act on the disenrollment and has reported disenrolling 72 percent of its Medicaid recipients that it had processed through May, according to an analysis by KFF, a health policy research organization.

Nationwide, millions of people are expected to lose Medicaid coverage during this unwinding period.

Some people are losing Medicaid coverage because they no longer qualify anymore. For instance, they may have a new job that offers health insurance, or they may make too much money to qualify now. But advocates contend that some people could be wrongly cut off Medicaid – and they need to quickly reenroll since losing coverage even briefly can be very disruptive and stressful if you’re sick or can’t get medicine.

“The state of Texas has made it clear that if you don’t respond to renewal or information requests from HHSC, you could lose your Medicaid coverage,” said Kathy Green, the state-federal advocacy manager at AARP Texas.

Green said it is imperative that older Texans be vigilant now in taking steps to renew their Medicaid coverage so that they’re not cut off for merely procedural reasons. She said there are three key things that Medicaid recipients should do right now:
 

1. KEEP INFORMATION UP TO DATE.
If you’re enrolled in Medicaid, make sure your contact information is up to date with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

2.    RENEW COVERAGE PROMPTLY.
Look for a yellow envelope in the mail that says “Action Required” or check your Texas Benefits online portal.

3.    KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A NOTICE OF ACTION.
If your submission is incomplete or not received, you will receive a letter in the mail or an electronic notice if you have opted to go paperless.


Find more details here from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission about the steps for renewing or updating your coverage.

 According to HHSC, another way of getting help or getting answers to questions about Medicaid renewal is to call 2-1-1, or 877-541-7905, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time. Select a language, then press 2.