With the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency, some Medicaid recipients may no longer be eligible for continued coverage. During this emergency, some Medicaid programs, such as Legacy Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Healthy Indiana Plan, have implemented legacy rules that require updated paperwork and documentation to maintain coverage. was holding.
Mark Fairchild is Director of Policy and Communications for Covering Kids and Family of Indiana.
In a previous interview, he explained that without the need for updated paperwork, individuals whose income or address changed were able to stay on Medicaid programs that they traditionally might not have been able to do.
“Because they haven’t retested, people who have been in the program during the public health emergency can either move out of state or make another drastic change to be ineligible for the state program. As long as you don’t basically stay in Indiana,” he said.
Ah federal spending bill Passed by members of Congress late last year, it separated Medicaid Compensation protection from federal public health emergencies. After March 31, 2023, the legacy eligibility rules will resume once ongoing coverage ends.
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Some recipients and providers face confusion as Medicaid recipients navigate different coverage options.
Fairchild said a big problem at this time is the various insurance companies involved in these Medicaid plans, which can be confusing for providers. Additionally, this confusion can lead consumers to assume that health insurance does not work where they may actually be eligible.
“If you don’t have access to medical insurance, whether it’s Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan, or a private option, you can’t get preventive care,” he said. “You can’t take care of yourself and get help when you need it.”
He said Hoosiers may have trouble accounting for certain insurers of insurance and the sight, dental and chiropractic subcontractors that these insurers may use.
For example, if a consumer has a Medicaid plan through Anthem, they can subcontract vision benefits through an agency such as Superior Vision. Certain providers can only benefit from Anthem’s vision when working with this particular subcontractor. However, consumers may not be aware of their subcontractors, and healthcare providers may not be educated about which insurers and subcontractors they work with.
Fairchild says this could add to consumer confusion.
“They may assume their coverage isn’t good everywhere, which means they go without the benefit of it,” he said. We go without knowing what health insurance will do for us.”
One option for mitigating these problems is increased consumer education, Fairchild said.
“Maybe it’s because they know how to talk to consumers by getting providers to send more fact sheets,” he said.
But consumers often already have sufficient paperwork from their provider companies, he said. Fairchild said other creative options might work better.
“The insurance companies themselves, hospitals and even schools will be interesting factors,” he said.
In terms of maintaining coverage, Fairchild says individuals who quickly lose ongoing coverage should research other coverage options and keep their information up to date.
“What everyone can do now is make sure their contact information is completely up to date,” he said.
He also said consumers should look for emails from the Department of Family and Social Services or insurance companies to stay up to date.
Violet is our daily news reporter. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on her Twitter: @ComberWilen.
