As a reminder, the federal government now requires states to start doing yearly Medicaid eligibility redeterminations again after they had paused them for three years due to COVID.
Please note that some people may receive a notice that their Medicaid coverage has ended as early as next week. Suppose you receive a notice that your Medicaid has ended, or you try to use your Medicaid to get medical care and are told you don’t have it anymore. In that case, it may mean that you are still eligible but that Medicaid couldn’t find you or that you didn’t send back the forms Medicaid needs.
People who lose their coverage because Medicaid couldn’t find them or did not send information back to Medicaid can have eligibility reconsidered without a new application if they submit the renewal information that came in the mail within 120 days of the date Medicaid says they became ineligible. Contact your regional Medicaid office if you learn your Medicaid has ended and can’t find your renewal information.
It will take a year for Medicaid to review everyone’s eligibility, so it’s not too late for you to update your contact information so Medicaid can find you and send you your paperwork. If you haven’t already done so, let Medicaid know your address at www.medicaid.ms.gov/staycovered.
If you get your Medicaid renewal forms in the mail, you can return them by traditional mail, online, telephone, fax, or in person at the nearest regional office. Each renewal form mailed contains an insert outlining you can return your renewal, and instructions on returning renewals are available on Medicaid’s website at https://medicaid.ms.gov/how-to-return-your-renewal/.
If you have questions or would like help with any forms your receive, you can contact your regional Medicaid office or the state office of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (601-359-6050). Families as Allies is a coverage champion, and we’re happy to help you (601-355-0915). Another helpful resource is the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program at 601-359-6050.
We appreciate Matt Westerfield, Communications Officer for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, for sharing much of the information we used to compose this blog.
