According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), the ending of COVID-era standards might result in the loss of publicly financed healthcare coverage for up to 370,000 Minnesotans.
So, the department has launched a campaign to make sure people are aware of their alternatives.
Renewal Challenges: Require Participants to Submit New Applications
During the pandemic, MinnesotaCare and medical assistance renewal procedures were put on hold. Three years later, federal requirements mandate that all participants in these programs submit new applications.
Since the Affordable Care Act’s installation, we most likely haven’t taken on a project this size, according to DHS associate director Julie Marquardt.
Making sure that everyone who is eligible for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare is covered is what DHS refers to as their task. In order to continue providing coverage to everyone who needs it, the department is making statewide efforts to communicate via mail with counties, tribes, and community organizations.
“This process hasn’t been completed for some folks in three years. Some people have never experienced it because they joined the program just as the pandemic was starting, she added.
Meeting the Growing Need: Experience 30% Surge Amid the Pandemic
The demand for medical help and MinnesotaCare increased by 30% during the pandemic. These programs presently serve 1.5 million Minnesota residents.
When it comes time to renew, people who are currently registered will receive an envelope with a blue circle and the words “Important Information Enclosed.” There will be information on the following stages inside.
If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, we’ll send you a letter with information on other health coverage options, she continued.
According to Marquardt, those who were most likely to lose coverage would still have been eligible if they had reapplied.
Reaching out to folks who are homeless or speak English as a second language is one of their toughest challenges. She claims that in order to facilitate those connections, the department is collaborating with neighborhood organizations.
Reapplications for MinnesotaCare won’t start until October.
