Thousands of Nebraska residents could lose Medicaid in April
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska) — Some Medicaid users may lose their coverage starting April 1 as the federal government asks states to restart the re-determination process after it was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The re-determination process is when the state reviews the financial situation of Medicaid users to determine if they are still eligible for Medicaid.
Early in the reassessment process, Medicaid users who are no longer at 133 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $39,900 for a family of four or $19,391 for a single person, can receive a letter regarding their suitability.
“The rules have not changed. If you qualified for Medicaid in 2018 and your circumstances haven’t changed, chances are you still would qualify today,” said Director Kevin Bagley, Department of Health and Human Services. “The rules themselves haven’t changed. They’re still based on income for most people, and then some people also have rules about assets and other resources. But the rules themselves haven’t changed. We’re just applying those rules, again, to make sure we know if someone is he eligible or not.
The notice was sent to Medicaid users
The letter will notify the recipient that it sees they no longer meet the income eligibility criteria and describe what happened. The letter will also provide a date for the end of coverage and information on how to reach the federal market, where they can potentially qualify for premium subsidies that will allow them to enter the market at little or no cost.
Dir. Bagley said they would begin repeating everyone’s eligibility verification process for 12 months after April 1.
“We predict there will likely be somewhere between 40 and 80,000 individuals of the 390,000 who will lose coverage at some point in the next 12 months,” Dir. Bagley said.
In Nebraska, 390,000 Nebraskans use Medicaid to cover their health care bills.
Bagley said he expects between 40,000 and 80,000 of Nebraska’s 390,000 people to lose coverage within the next 12 months.
The best thing Medicaid users can do right now is to update their contact information. DHHS recommends that you ensure that your contact information is current and that your family status and income are correct. Follow this link to check it on the DHHS website. You can also call 855-632-7633.
You can get help finding new coverage through Nebraska Appleseed Enrollment Assistance or through their Community Helpline.
“Many people have moved in the last three years. So if someone has moved and doesn’t get notice for Medicaid, because they went to an old address, that could be a roadblock,” said Kelsey Arends, health care access program personnel attorney for Nebraska Appleseed .
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