Unwinding Medicaid In April, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) began the process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility for all 5.9 million enrollees — a process that extends over the next year. This month is the first time in three years people can get disenrolled from Medicaid. Unfortunately, we don’t have data on how many people have lost coverage yet. We want to make sure people don’t miss information or get lost in the confusion of notices and deadlines. Here are ways Texans can take action:
- Ensure your contact information is up-to-date with HHSC by calling 211 or going to YourTexasBenefits.
- Keep an eye out for a yellow envelope or an electronic notification to know when it’s your turn to respond. You have 30 days to submit a renewal packet from the date it is sent.
- If you miss a deadline, you can still take action. Under federal law, you have 90 days from when you lose coverage to submit the information requested at renewal information for your case to be reconsidered. After that, you have to re-apply.
New Outreach Resources
- SeguroTX has flyers available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Chinese, and French.
- Thanks to Sima Ladjevardian, HHS Regional Director Region VI, we have some videos to support your outreach on Unwinding and Public Charge! Check out the toolkit.
- PIF has the following available in English and eight languages (Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese):
- A simple one-pager to hand out or post (with differently branded versions to fit your needs),
- A template community presentation slide deck,
- Individual posts for Facebook or Instagram, and
- Series of posts for Facebook or Instagram.
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Feedback Loops Now more than ever, it’s important to share information about how the Medicaid Unwinding process is going. Here are some recent examples of issues we’ve seen:
- Confusing notices
- Different dates on initial cover letters and requests for information
- Multiple notices with different dates at denial
- Technical difficulties navigating YourTexasBenefits.com
- No option to submit renewal online
- Upload errors
- Different information on the website than on 211
We want to make sure we minimize the impact on people renewing Medicaid. Please continue to send us any eligibility issues you encounter so we can help resolve them. You can contact us at kmartinez@everytexan.org. |
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Protect Yourself from Fraud We’ve heard from many enrollment assisters that there has been an uptick in fraud over the last year. The Marketplace, assister organizations, and your state will never threaten you or anyone in your household or ask for your credit card information or payment in order for you to keep or qualify for health coverage. We’re concerned about new scams popping up as the confusion around Medicaid Unwinding is underway. CMS Resources on Fraud/Scams
Check out this new page on HealthCare.Gov about reporting fraud. |
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Do You Love Medicaid Policy? Come Work at Every Texan! Every Texan is hiring a Senior Policy Analyst who will work to improve access for people facing barriers to affordable health care — Texans of color, low-income households, immigrants, and Texans with high health care needs — by improving access to and equity in health coverage programs, including Texas Medicaid and CHIP.
- Do you want to advance social justice by strengthening public policy?
- Are you a Medicaid policy or budget wonk?
- Do you have experience doing policy or legislative advocacy and/or working in a state Medicaid agency?
- Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and advance racial, ethnic, and gender equity by expanding access to affordable health care and financial security for every Texan?
- Are you located in the greater Austin region or willing to join us here?
If so, check out our Senior Policy Analyst job posting! |
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