It’s time to verify Medicaid eligibility

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan are reminding patients and customers that they must verify their Medicaid eligibility to ensure they have medical insurance coverage.

The federal government required that Medicaid programs maintain a customer's coverage without recertification of eligibility since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Congress delinked the continuous enrollment provision from the public health emergency when the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, was signed into law on Dec. 29, 2022, ending continuous enrollment on March 31, 2023.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services sent letters in spring to individuals informing them of their renewal month. Wisconsin Medicaid recipients can check their renewal month online at access.wi.gov or through the MyACCESS app. In Michigan, the MI Bridges website at Michigan.gov/MIBridges can help people apply for benefits, find resources and manage their case. Enrolled individuals in both states should have received renewal information.

Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan are working together to make sure Medicaid customers are aware of the need to verify their eligibility renewal. Direct communication to customers will include mail and phone, and widespread public efforts through billboards, digital advertisements, public service announcements and media stories.

In the first four months of the renewal process (June 1 to Sept. 1), approximately 285,000 BadgerCare Plus members had renewals due, and 14,600 of those were Security Health Plan members. It's predicted nearly 250,000 Wisconsinites have gone through their renewal process.

"Our main goal is to ensure patients continue to have coverage for their care, whether that is through Medicaid or other options available to them," said Jennifer Shermo, Security Health Plan chief growth officer. "This is an especially difficult task as Medicaid members haven't had to worry about renewing their coverage for more than three years. That is why it is so important for us to help in any way that we can."