INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With many programs introduced during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic ending, some Hoosiers are being unenrolled from Medicaid accounts and Indiana State Representative Tanya Pfaff is reminding the community to renew.
According to a release from Indiana House Democrats, the federal protections for Medicaid ended in April, making July the fourth month of eligibility redeterminations. As that process has resumed, thousands of people have lost their Medicaid coverage due to deadlines and renewal procedures that some may have missed like not updating or completing paperwork.
As a result, 53,000 Hoosiers have been disenrolled as of the end of April, with an additional 600 disenrollments in May. The state estimated that 400,000 people in the state would lose their coverage, but recent rates have shown that number to be closer to 600,000.
In an effort to prevent more Hoosiers from being disenrolled from Medicaid, State Representative Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) worked to co-author a bill (House Bill 1140) that would expand Medicaid coverage for pregnancy postpartum and continues to be committed to ensuring Hoosiers receive and maintain their healthcare coverage.
“With nearly a third of Indiana’s population enrolled in Medicaid, I want to make enrollees aware of the changes in procedure,” Pfaff said. “Many people haven’t heard of the end of federal protections or are unfamiliar with the eligibility renewal process. I’m especially concerned since a Family and Social Services Administration (FFSA) report showed that out of the initial 52,000 who lost coverage, 88% of those people were unenrolled for procedural reasons – not because they’re ineligible.”
Pfaff continues urging Hoosiers to renew their coverage.
“Hoosiers need to watch their mailboxes since the FSSA has started mailing notices about eligibility. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, HIP, CHIP, Hoosier Healthwise, or Hoosier Care Connect you should check your status. The state will be doing an eligibility review each month until March 2024. Please do not wait to renew your coverage since it’s essential to the health, safety, and comfortability of individuals and family.”
For those that have already been disenrolled from their health care coverage, specifically Medicaid, there is a 90-day period to resubmit the paperwork. If the 90-day deadline has been missed, another application for coverage will need to be filed. If Medicaid eligibility no longer applies, visit the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov for other coverage options.
