Lansing, Michigan – In March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) successfully renewed Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan coverage for 141,471 individuals due for reevaluation, increasing the total to over 1.5 million beneficiaries. This update aligns with Medicaid Awareness Month, highlighting Medicaid as the most extensive insurance provider in the country.
Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowed beneficiaries to maintain their Medicaid without the need for yearly renewals. However, with the enactment of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, this suspension has ended, and Michigan has resumed its annual renewal process starting May 2023.
“As part of Medicaid Awareness Month, we are encouraging Michigan residents to submit their renewal paperwork to continue their access to quality, affordable health care,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Maintaining health care coverage for as many residents as possible continues to be our goal, whether it’s for routine check-ups or health care challenges. I’m pleased we’ve been able to renew Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan coverage for more than 1.5 million people so far.”
Furthermore, Meghan Groen, Michigan’s Medicaid director, appeared in a video to explain the benefits of Medicaid and to remind residents to look out for their renewal packets and provide the necessary information to maintain their healthcare benefits. Over recent months, MDHHS has implemented several federally approved tactics to simplify the renewal process and minimize the risk of coverage loss for the citizens of Michigan.
These include:
- Renewing Medicaid eligibility for people receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program without conducting separate income determinations.
- Permitting managed care plans to assist enrollees in completing renewal forms.
- Reinstating eligibility for people who were disenrolled for procedural reasons and are subsequently redetermined to be eligible for Medicaid during a 90-day reconsideration period.
- Extending renewals to May 2024 for beneficiaries undergoing life-saving treatment, such as dialysis or for cancer.
- Extending automatic reenrollment into a Medicaid managed care plan to up to 120 days.
- Providing beneficiaries an extra month to submit paperwork to avoid loss of health care coverage.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) maintains an online dashboard where the latest Medicaid renewal statistics are updated monthly. To date, 1,431,695 million individuals have successfully renewed their Medicaid coverage. An additional 108,190 who were up for renewal in March are still expected to submit their completed forms by the end of April.
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In March, 15,372 individuals were removed from Medicaid because they no longer met the eligibility criteria, and 2,203 were dropped due to procedural issues, such as failing to submit necessary verification documents like driver’s licenses, pay stubs, and bank statements. However, MDHHS offers a chance to restore coverage to those who were removed for procedural reasons if they prove their eligibility within a 90-day reconsideration period.
MDHHS encourages all Medicaid recipients to verify their renewal month and complete their renewal processes online at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.
It is important for families to send in their renewal documents even if they suspect they might no longer qualify for Medicaid. In some cases, while some family members may not qualify, others, like children under MiChild, might still be eligible. Additionally, individuals who exceed the income limits for certain programs might qualify for other health benefits.
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For those who find themselves ineligible for Medicaid, there is additional information available about other affordable health coverage options on HealthCare.gov. Michiganders transitioning away from Medicaid can explore and enroll in comprehensive health insurance plans, with many finding options available for under $10 a month. More details about what is needed for the renewal process and about other available health coverage options can be found on the Medicaid Benefit Changes website.