Up to 15 million people could lose Medicaid coverage when the continuous enrollment provision ends on March 31, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That’s why Health Net, an insurance provider in California, launched its Renewal Review campaign on Wednesday to ensure Medi-Cal members are aware of this transition.
The continuous enrollment requirement was part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed in 2020 and prohibits states from disenrolling people from Medicaid during the public health emergency. In return, these states receive increased federal funding. The continuous enrollment provision has resulted in significant increases in Medicaid enrollment compared to pre-pandemic levels. But on Law on Consolidated Appropriationssigned into law in December, will now end the continuous enrollment requirement on March 31.
That means Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, will go back to asking members to renew and review their eligibility information, a process called redetermination. Medi-Cal provides coverage for about 13 million people in the state.
Health network is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation and provides health plans to individuals, families and businesses who are eligible for Medi-Cal or Medicare. It serves about 3 million people. Her Review for Renewal campaign will use print and digital media — such as mail, interactive voice calls, text messages, social media, digital ads and posters — to inform Medi-Cal members of the deadline and provide them with resources to save the coverage.
“Through our renewal review campaign, Health Net wants to ensure millions of Medi-Cal members are aware of the upcoming deadline and resources to maintain their health coverage, while encouraging all Medi-Cal members to review and update their household information,” said Dr. Ramiro Zuniga, Deputy. president and chief medical officer of Health Net.
In addition, Health Net will provide educational materials at several cultural and community events to help Californians understand the renewal process.
Doing this outreach and education work is necessary to make Americans aware of the end of the continuous enrollment requirement after so many years of not having to go through a redetermination, Zuniga added.
“Given that California has not gone through the redistricting process in nearly three years, informing members of this change is critical. If not informed, many members may find themselves without continued coverage,” Zuniga said. “Maintaining health insurance helps Californians stay healthy and live their lives to the fullest.”
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report shown what might happen to those who do not renew their Medicaid coverage. Before the pandemic, 65 percent of people excluded from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program experienced a period of uninsured coverage, according to the report. This includes 17% of people who were uninsured for the full year after opting out.
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