What you should learn about your Medicaid keep in WV

(Click on right here for a listing of useful sources.)

When COVID-19 first tore by West Virginia within the spring of 2020, the federal authorities stepped in to verify folks had entry to the meals and medical insurance they wanted. In some instances, advantages had been elevated. In others, reminiscent of Medicaid, state officers have been allowed to briefly cease reviewing eligibility necessities. Since then, the insurance coverage program meant to assist low-income Individuals has allowed anybody who makes use of it to remain in this system, no matter their household earnings.

Many of those adjustments, nonetheless, at the moment are starting to revert to the best way they had been. In early March, the federal meals help program lower their funds to pre-pandemic numbers. And beginning April 1, the West Virginia Division of Well being and Human Providers will start rechecking the earnings necessities of Medicaid customers.

All through April and the months to come back, many West Virginians who’ve insurance coverage can have types despatched to the bodily tackle that DHHR has for them. If they do not reply to this letter rapidly, they are going to doubtless lose their medical insurance.

DHHR expects greater than 100,000 West Virginians to lose Medicaid, which may result in an enormous bounce within the state’s uninsured residents. Based on Rhonda Rogombe, the well being coverage analyst on the West Virginia Funds and Coverage Heart, most of the people who find themselves anticipated to lose Medicaid are nonetheless eligible however have misplaced contact with the well being division, actually because they’ve moved and never they knowledgeable the well being division.

Nevertheless, there are a number of sources out there to assist folks both preserve Medicaid or change to a different inexpensive medical insurance plan.

We make it easier to determine all of it out, stated Jeremy Smith, program director of the states’ medical insurance helpline. We truly undergo this entire course of with folks.

Here is how West Virginians who use Medicaid can discover out if they’ll preserve their plans and what subsequent steps to take.

Step 1: Contact DHHR

For the greater than 600,000 West Virginians who use Medicaid, step one to maintaining their medical insurance is ensuring DHHR has their right bodily tackle. If somebody has modified tackle with out notifying the state well being division, they won’t obtain the types they should preserve Medicaid.

There are a couple of methods to replace your contact data. For individuals who know their login to DHHRs internet portal, WV PATH, they’ll go there and click on on login. Then, earlier than logging in, they need to then click on on Handle your Optum GovID.

After following the prompts, folks shall be directed to a kind the place they’ll evaluate and replace their contact data, together with their bodily tackle. If folks favor to make the change over the cellphone, they’ll name the DHHR Medicaid customer support line at 1-877-716-1212.

Folks may also examine and alter their bodily standing at an area DHHR workplace, which might be present in all 55 state counties. Moreover, in the event that they e-mail dhhrbcfchangectr@wv.gov with their full title and present tackle, the division will replace their information.

Based on Smith, there are alternatives for Medicaid customers who’re experiencing homelessness or do not need everlasting mailing addresses. He stated if somebody calls his group, West Virginia Navigator, his colleagues can discover a group that can let the particular person obtain mail at a bodily constructing.

Lots of the coalitions that assist the homeless have some methods up their sleeves to advise folks what to do, Smith stated. However [people using Medicaid] they undoubtedly want to determine which tackle they need to use.

Step 2: Be looking out for DHHR paperwork

Beginning in April, DHHR will start mailing Medicaid types to West Virginia residents who’ve insurance coverage. Kinds shall be despatched periodically and program customers ought to count on to obtain them anytime between April 2023 and April 2024.

The paperwork will ask for numerous data, together with one’s wage, and other people should reply. DHHR will count on the person to reply by the date listed on the paperwork. Smith stated if somebody would not reply by that date, they may threat shedding their medical insurance.

You will not have limitless time to return all this stuff to them, he stated.

Smith stated a lot of the paperwork ought to solely ask for data, and he would not count on folks to wish to ship again every other documentation generally. Nevertheless, if customers have questions on easy methods to fill out the types, they’ll at all times name and ask the Navigator program.

Even when folks assume they’re not eligible for Medicaid, it’s nonetheless vital to fill out the paperwork from DHHR. Rogombe stated the types are an vital option to join people who find themselves not eligible for this system with different medical insurance sources.

Step 3: Decide your medical insurance choices

After somebody sends their types again, DHHR will reply shortly as as to whether or not they’re nonetheless eligible for insurance coverage. In the event that they nonetheless qualify, they are going to stay on Medicaid.

If somebody is not eligible, Smith stated they need to name the Navigator program instantly to debate different medical insurance choices. The federal authorities acted final yr to protect insurance coverage choices for working-class Individuals. Smith stated many individuals who not qualify for Medicaid can discover packages which might be free or $10 a month. The payments would preserve program prices down a minimum of by the tip of 2025, based on the Kaiser Household Basis.

People who find themselves not eligible for Medicaid may also examine with their employer to see if they supply a very good insurance coverage choice. In some instances, when these plans are discovered to be too costly, folks should be eligible for affordable choices from the federal authorities’s insurance coverage market. Smith stated the Navigator program can advise folks on the most suitable choice for them and their household and information them by getting new insurance coverage.

If persons are in search of medical insurance on their very own, they need to strive to enroll earlier than their Medicaid protection ends, which date shall be listed on the response despatched by DHHR. As well as, Smith famous that there are lots of rip-off websites with choices that don’t meet federal necessities. He says the one place folks ought to store for medical insurance is the federal government web site, HealthCare.gov.

Helpful sources

• West Virginia residents can contact the state’s insurance coverage helpline, West Virginia Navigator, at 304-356-5834, or at considered one of its 4 workplaces all through the state. Funded by the federal authorities, the company has staff to verify present Medicaid customers keep insured. They’ve individuals who communicate Spanish and may discover on-line interpreters for West Virginia residents who communicate different languages.
• At 6 p.m. on March 28, the West Virginia Funds and Coverage Heart will host a webinar on Fb to information folks utilizing Medicaid by the earnings verification course of and reply questions.
• DHHR has a number of name desks to reply Medicaid-related questions. For questions on its on-line portal, the technical assist quantity is 844-451-3515. For insurance coverage plan questions, the customer support quantity is 877-716-1212.
• The nationwide web site for medical insurance is HealthCare.gov. There are sources in it to seek out out which plans are choices for you and your loved ones.