What to Do If You Lose Your Medicaid
Post Date: Jan 31, 2024
News & Press
Montana Medicaid started redetermining coverage on April 1, 2023. For the last three years, states have been required to maintain coverage for people on Medicaid as part of a Covid-19 pandemic relief package. But now that relief package has expired, and states have the freedom to end coverage for people who are no longer eligible. Nearly 55,000 people lost coverage in Montana between April and October 2023, many children. If you or your family are included in that number, there are other options for coverage.
Apply for Marketplace coverage
If you’re not eligible for Medicaid anymore, you should get an automatic notification from Healthcare.gov to direct you to apply for insurance through the health insurance marketplace. You can apply online and see the available coverage based on your health insurance needs, location, and income.
You may also qualify for federal assistance to reduce the monthly cost of a marketplace plan. If your income is at 150% of the federal poverty level—$20,385 for a single person and $41,625 for a family of four in 2023—enhanced federal assistance could reduce your costs to as low as $0 each month. Submit your application online through Healthcare.gov.
Reapply for Medicaid
Even if you lost coverage when the state began redeterminations, you might still be eligible and just need to reapply. Sometimes, a change of address could mean you didn’t receive the redetermination notices. Or you might have missed returning the paperwork needed to determine your eligibility. Sometimes, kids might still be eligible even when their parents are not, so it’s important to check that, too.
If these cases describe you and your family, don’t delay reapplying. In Montana, you have 30 days to get your paperwork in if you receive a redetermination notice. You can apply onlineor by mail with the redetermination packet you receive.
See if your employer offers coverage
Some employers offer health insurance to their employees, though it may be more expensive than Medicaid. Whether or not these benefits are available will vary depending on your job, the size of the organization you work for, and other factors. Contact your employer’s human resources department to ask about this option.
Look into Medicare coverage
If you’re 65 or older and didn’t apply for Medicare coverage when you first became eligible, check to see if you can get coverage now. Though it’s typically intended for 65 and up, some people with a disability, ALS, or end-stage renal disease may qualify early. If you qualify, you can apply for Medicare online.
Contact a CHP resource coordinator for help
Losing healthcare puts a big burden on families who have to reapply to get coverage. That’s especially true when you’re already dealing with health problems that need care now. CHP’s resource coordinators can help with information and application assistance for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as looking into the options for other coverage and assistance.
This free service can help people throughout the Southwest Montana community in Bozman, Belgrade, or Livingston access affordable healthcare. Contact a clinic to learn more about what kind of help is available to avoid interruptions to your health coverage.
