Lost health insurance

Howwould you feel if you suddenly lost your health insurance? Frightened? Vulnerable?

Well, 4 million Americans, including families with small children, have just faced that terrifying reality. Allwere on stateMedicaid programs, many joining during the pandemic when they lost their jobs and their insurance coverage. Despite returning towork, theywere allowed to stay onMedicaid without income review— until lastMay.

Nowthe states are required to review their eligibility to continue. In the coming months, more people will face this reality. Manywent back towork, but continued to be onMedicaid instead of having a paycheck deduction for employer-provided insurance. They can ignore the renewal packets that come in the mail if they opt for employer-provided insurance But otherswork in low-paying jobs that don’t offer health insurance. Or they have no income at all. They need to respond immediately whenreceiving the renewal request packet to verify their eligibility.

Many people aren’t responding, perhaps because they already have other insurance or they are confused by the notification. Perhaps they havemoved and never received the information.

Evenworse, in the rush to reassess eligibility, many states have been overwhelmed by the review process. In fact, CMS, the federal agency that is responsible for health services, has just sent a letter to 36 states reprimanding them for long call centerwait times, complicated procedures and lack of follow-up .

According to anewreport by the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately threefourths of the dis-enrollments since the process began in early springwere because the renewal packetswere not returned. But among thosewhodid return their renewal packets, two-thirds successfully renewed their coverage.

This doesn’t seem to be a political issue. Both red states and blue states are accused in this bureaucratic nightmare.

Caught in the middle, though, are millions of Americanswhoare barely scraping by. If uninsured in a healthcare emergency, they will run to hospital emergency rooms, which are required to treat and stabilize health problems but not to provide further care. Some will receive bills for treatment, which will likely result in collections. And in rising health insurance premiums for all of us!

If you knowsomeonewhois being taken offMedicaid, please let them know that there is help available through local community groups. Each state has a programfor low-or no-income adults and children, setting its own income limits. There may also be separate programs for children only, with higher income cutoffs. Don’t assume youwon’t qualify.

If youwere already onMedicaid, the first step is to return the re-enrollment package you received in the mail, despite its seeming complexity. There is no time limit or open enrollment period forMedicaid, but youmust act promptly to prevent dis-enrollment. And if you think youwere mistakenly removed, you can immediately re-apply again.

One alternative for peoplewho earn more than their state’s income limit for Medicaid is Obamacare. It’s a mistaken assumption that these Affordable CareAct plans are "too expensive." In fact, according toHealthInsurance.org, an online consumer resource site, there are actually free "Silver" plans with excellent coverage available to people with up to about $20,000 in annual income. And free or low-cost coverage for people with higher incomes inmany areas. Income limits are muchhigher if families have children.

You can find your ownplan and cost in every state using their calculator atwww.healthinsurance.org/Obamacare/subsidycalculator.

And if you go to the governmentwebsite Healthcare.gov, you can search specific plans and apply online. If your state of residence is one of those maintaining its own health insurance marketplace, you’ll be connected to your state marketplace website.

States need to cut through theMedicaid re-approval bottlenecks. And peoplewho are uninsured need to understand these additional resources, which I hope you will share. That’s the SavageTruth.

Terry Savage

The Savage Truth