On January 5, 2023, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP (Child's Health Insurance Program) released the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition Provisions. This document is regarding changes to the constant sign-up and the impact of these changes on Medicaid and CHIP customers. 

In plain English, what does this mean for people on Medicaid and children on these health insurance programs? This means that the 2020 COVID Medicaid protections put in place during the pandemic expired on April 1, 2023. Those protections stopped States from ending or unjoining beneficiaries (someone who gains control from something like trust, will, or insurance policy) from Medicaid during the pandemic except under limited cases.  

It means that the Department of Human Services (DHS) has begun sending out notices to those signed up in the programs asking that they show updated financial qualifying information. The notices request that Medicaid beneficiaries complete a renewal packet and return it to DHS to figure out if they are still eligible for Medicaid benefits. The renewal packets must be completed and returned in a timely manner.  

The main worry is that a person who wants to receive the benefits must first receive the renewal packet letter. If you have moved within the past 2 years, and you know that you and your children are on Medicaid, it is suggested that you contact DHS and update your contact information. It’s a chance that DHS may send notices dealing with Medicaid's questions of qualifying to the address that DHS has on file, which could be wrong.  

Unless the notice is returned to the sender with a new address, then DHS will likely assume that the person it was for received it. If this occurs, then DHS will likely unenroll the beneficiary once the response time comes around again. This is why it is important to ensure that DHS has updated contact information for the beneficiary.  

Also, if a beneficiary has moved in the past two years, it is suggested that they check their email for notices from DHS now and then. This is because if DHS gets returned mail, trying to contact Medicaid beneficiaries in at least two different ways is a must. The DHS may email or text a beneficiary if they think the renewal notices were returned to the sender. 

Another issue to be mindful of is that if you as an adult do not qualify for continuous Medicaid coverage, complete the packet anyway as your child(ren) may continue to qualify for benefits.

AUTHOR: TREVOR TOWNSEND, STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTER FOR ARKANSAS LEGAL SERVICES