Tens of thousands of low-income Utah residents have lost their health insurance in recent weeks, and more in the coming months as the state continues to relax pandemic-era federal policies that barred people from excluding people from Medicaid. are expected to lose their health insurance.
More than 15% of Utahans had Medicaid when membership in Beehive surged to a record 536,301 in April, according to the report. Data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. At the end of May, the first 39,000 Utah residents, more than 1 in 100, had their health insurance cut off.
Medicaid subscribers include some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, including the disabled, pregnant women, children, the homeless, and the low-income.
According to early data posted on the DHHS website, the majority of those who lost their insurance were dismissed for procedural reasons because the state could not locate them or return documents on time. is shown.
These figures have raised concerns among advocates that many who have lost their insurance may still be eligible. And the problem isn’t just limited to Utah, states across the country are starting to lose health insurance in large numbers for the same reasons.
Utah expanded Medicaid in 2019 and now has Maximum qualifying income From $19,392 a year for an individual to $67,278 a year for a family of eight.
according to DHHS DashboardOf the cases surveyed last month, just over 40% of members had their Medicaid coverage renewed, about 5% were ineligible to maintain the plan, 5% of cases were still pending, and nearly 48% were under process. Lost coverage for the reason. The state was unable to contact the recipient and was still unsure of eligibility.
Jeff Nelson, director of entitlement policy at DHHS, told the Utah Legislature’s Interim Committee on Health and Human Services on Wednesday that “thousands” of those who lost coverage for procedural reasons are re-enrolling.
and Reporting forms submitted to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesThe state said it took multiple steps to reach out to Utah residents with Medicaid and renew their coverage as needed.
The state mailed out a flyer in December 2021, adding a message to the Medicaid website and case login portal urging members to update their contact information. He also reportedly made a social media post in September 2022, verified his address through Equifax, and sent an email to members.
This spring, Utah began mailing renewal notices using existing addresses. Matt Slonaker, executive director of the Utah Health Policy Project, said sending only physical notifications by mail likely contributed to the low response rate.
“I don’t think the postal service is appropriate,” Slonaker told the Salt Lake Tribune. “How many people are waiting to see their mail by the end of the week? Half of them don’t want to open it.”
People who live in rental housing or do not have stable housing may change addresses frequently, and people who are homeless may not have a physical address to receive notifications. There is, he added. Slonaker suggested texting might have been a better way to reach out to people.
“Unfortunately, a more effective and readily available system of text messages has not been implemented by state agencies responsible for processing applications and outreach efforts,” Slonaker said.
A DHHS spokeswoman told the Tribune that the health insurers it has are sending reminders to members by text.
If Utah residents needed to renew their Medicaid coverage, their native language could also have been a barrier.according to Analysis by the Kaiser Family FoundationUtah’s online Medicaid application is available in approximately 100 languages, but the homepage and PDF application are available in English and Spanish only, and our call center attendants speak only English.
Another possible reason why Medicaid recipients don’t respond to mailers is that Utah Department of Labor Deputy Director Kevin Burt told a legislative committee hearing, “They’re being compensated by employer sponsorship.” said.
For many years, Utah One of the lowest rates for Medicaid insurance people of that country. About 11.3% of Utah residents have Medicaid as of 2021, and in 2019, only Utah had single-digit Medicaid coverage at 9.7%.
according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates Using data from 2017 to 2021, about 1 in 10 Utah residents under the age of 65 have no health insurance at all. The public probably won’t know how that number has changed during the two more years that continued COVID-19 Medicaid coverage has been lifted.
Slonaker said it’s important for states to have strategies in place to ensure that people who need health insurance get coverage, including through Medicaid, children’s health insurance programs, the federal health insurance marketplace, and employers.
“Individuals can face financial dislocation[from health care costs]… which can set them back years from buying a home or climbing the financial ladder,” Slonaker said. “If you have health insurance, it’s a great equality vehicle.”
What if I have Medicaid
Utah residents on Medicaid should ensure they have up-to-date address and contact information with the Utah Department of Labor Services, and be alert for mailings from the state.
Those who have already lost their coverage have 90 days to retroactively cover claims from Medicaid and should renew their coverage as soon as possible if eligible.
If you need help figuring out what to do next, contact the Utah Health Policy Project. Take Care Utah Programprovides assistance with navigating and applying for insurance.
