In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, the government made a new rule that stopped people from needing to renew their Medicaid insurance. This rule will soon end, which means some people’s Medicaid Continuous Coverage Ends.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic so that people could remain continuously enrolled in Medicaid without needing to renew their membership, and this was referred to as “continuous coverage.” Medicaid continuous coverage ends on March 31, and Medicaid redetermination will resume; in Colorado, this will begin with renewals due in May 2023. If you no longer qualify for Medicaid, you will have a 60-day special enrollment period to purchase new coverage.
What is Medicaid continuous coverage?
The government made the Families First Coronavirus Response Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rule let people keep their Medicaid insurance without needing to renew it. This way, people didn’t have to worry about losing their Medicaid insurance during the pandemic. Because of this rule, more people joined Medicaid. By October 2022, 20.2 million more people had Medicaid insurance since February 2020.
Why and when is Medicaid continuous coverage ending?
In December 2022, the government made a new rule called the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. This new rule will end continuous coverage after March 31, 2023. Starting April 1, 2023, people will need to renew their Medicaid insurance again, starting with renewals due in May. If you don’t qualify for Medicaid anymore, you won’t be able to renew.
This is the beginning of the end of the pandemic rules for Medicaid. Experts have estimated that up to 15 million people may be disenrolled from Medicaid during this unwinding period; however, this number does include around 6.8 million people who will still be eligible to reapply.
What to do if your Medicaid continuous coverage ends
If you can’t have Medicaid insurance anymore and you can use the insurance marketplace, you can find new insurance between March 31, 2023, and July 31, 2024. You will have Medicaid insurance until it’s time to renew. If you don’t renew or can’t have Medicaid anymore, you will lose your insurance. You will have 60 days to find new insurance after you apply for a new plan. Your new insurance will start on the first day of the next month.
You don’t have to wait until your Medicaid insurance ends to find new insurance. You can start looking for new insurance 60 days before your Medicaid insurance ends.
Finding new insurance can be hard, but the experts at Lighthouse Group can help you. They will help you find a new insurance plan that is good for you and your family.
Stay insured after continuous coverage ends
Just because the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is ending doesn’t mean you have to be without insurance. If you can’t have Medicaid anymore, talk to the Lighthouse Group to find a new insurance plan from the marketplace that works best for you and your family!
What if I don’t know if I can have Medicaid insurance after continuous coverage ends?
The rules for eligibility can be difficult to understand. If you don’t know if you can have Medicaid insurance, find out how much money your family makes, how many people are in your family, and if anything has changed in your life. Talk to your state’s Medicaid office to find out if you can still have Medicaid insurance. They will help you understand what you need to do to keep your insurance. If you can’t have Medicaid anymore, remember that you have 60 days to find new insurance through the insurance marketplace.
