Montanans who lost Medicaid coverage can still enroll in marketplace

If you recently lost Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids coverage, it’s time to take advantage of open enrollment for health insurance, according to a reminder Monday from Cover Montana.

Nov. 1 marked the opening of the period Montanans can enroll in the marketplace, apply for Medicaid, or change their health care plans to better meet their needs, said Cover Montana, a program of the Montana Primary Care Association.

“Over the past year and a half, thousands of Montanans have seen changes to their health insurance coverage,” said Olivia Riutta, director of population health with the Montana Primary Care Association, in a statement. “The window to get covered again is closing, but it’s not too late.

“We will do everything possible to reach as many Montanans as possible to get them affordable insurance by the January 15 deadline.”

The Montana Primary Care Association is the professional association of Montana health centers, including Federally Qualified Community Health Centers and urban Indian Health Centers. Its mission is to promote integrated primary healthcare to achieve health and well-being for Montana’s most vulnerable populations.

Open enrollment runs through Jan. 15, but if Montanans need coverage on Jan. 1, they must enroll by Dec. 15.

Last year, 30% of Montanans who enrolled in the marketplace secured a plan for $10 a month, according to Cover Montana. Additionally, a record 66,366 enrolled in the marketplace in the past year, and 87% received tax credits to make premiums more affordable, Cover Montana said.

After the end of the public health emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government required states to confirm people receiving insurance through Medicaid were still eligible for it.

The process in Montanan resulted in 130,000 people losing coverage, including 63% due to procedural or administrative hurdles, according to Cover Montana.

Additionally, 42,000 no longer qualify for Medicaid because they have higher incomes, according to Cover Montana. But Cover Montana said those people may be able to enroll in a marketplace plan and get financial help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

“We know that Montanans want health insurance coverage and to have the peace of mind knowing they can see a doctor if they get sick or injured,” Riutta said. “But people are confused about what they qualify for, and Cover Montana is here to help get people the health care they need and can afford.”

Some people are worried about how upcoming state and federal actions will affect their health care. In Montana, Medicaid expansion will be a consideration for the 2025 Montana Legislature.

In the meantime, Republican President-elect Donald Trump made conflicting statements about his plans for the Affordable Care Act, according to KFF Health News. In an interview, Riutta said Cover Montana is hearing questions about its future and how Medicaid might be affected.

“What we’re telling folks is the ACA is still the law of the land,” Riutta said. “We don’t know what will happen to it in the future. But we do know that right now, Montanans have an opportunity to make sure that they’re covered in 2025.”

Currently, she said, a “vast majority” of Montanans receive financial help to make their plans more affordable, and 2025 will continue to have “enhanced affordability measures.”

“So those plans are going to be some of the most affordable that we’ve ever seen in Montana,” she said.

Additionally, Riutta said all the plans on the marketplace offer “zero dollar” prevention services, such as for flu shots, “well woman” exams or other services depending on a person’s age.

“We know it’s a smarter investment to make sure that people get prevention and get screened and are able to treat any health needs that they have sooner than later. It’s better for people, and it’s better for our health care dollars,” Riutta said.