What is Medicaid Unwinding?
Prior to 2020 states would renew eligibility for Medicaid eligibility annually. Then in 2020 due to the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE) everyone was kept enrolled in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan, and the Essential Plan. Now that the federal government has declared the PHE to be over, states have resumed their renewal practice.
Since eligibility determinations resumed last Spring millions of people have been disenrolled from the three programs.
What does this mean for you?
Watch out for notices from NYS Of Health (NYSOH) or your local social services department telling you it’s time to renew your coverage. You may have to confirm your contact information or provide documents so that the state can verify if you’re still eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Don’t risk losing your benefits! If you get a notice, it is critical that you respond by the time specified to avoid delays or coverage termination.
What to know if you have both Medicaid and Medicare?
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, your local social services dept is helping pay some of your Medicare-related costs (i.e., Part A & Part B premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance).
If you get a notice asking you to recertify for Medicaid or the Medicare Savings Program, you must respond. Not doing so could lead to you losing this important benefit.
NOTE: some people who recently turned 65 and became eligible for Medicare will get reimbursement checks from the state. Those are to help you cover your Medicare premiums.
Who to contact for help?
Contact New York State of Health (NYSOH) to update your contact information or find out your renewal date or request help from an Assistor. Call 855-355-5777.
New Jersey residents call 1-833-677-1010.
You can also contact your current Medicaid, CHP, or Essential Plan managed care plan or your Medicare Advantage carrier.
You may also call or text 516-223-0704 to speak with one of our NYSOH-certified marketplace brokers.
How can our teams help?
Our Healthwhiz Solutions Brokers and Healthwhiz Concierge teams are trained and ready to help.
- If receive a notice from NYSOH to renew your Medicaid, CHP or Essential Plan, our NYSOH-Certified Brokers can help you renew your coverage.
- If you’re no longer eligible, we can help you find and enroll in a Marketplace plan that meets your needs and budget.
- If you’re 65 and older or disabled, our Healthwhiz Concierge Care Guides can help with the paperwork to recertify or apply for the first time through your local social services dept.
Our Care Guides can also help you find and apply for the state Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (i.e., EPIC), the Medicare Savings Program and other assistance programs that can help you save money.
[New Jersey residents, we can help you too. Our agency was recently approved as a GetCoveredNJ broker.]
For more information, contact our Healthwhiz Solutions office:
Main Number: 516-223-0704
Email: support@healthwhizsolutions.com
Hours of Operation: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST, Monday – Friday.
