One in four people in California’s low-income health insurance program, Medi-Cal, failed to renew their insurance, according to a new report.
A report from Axios and the healthcare publication KFF, referencing data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), indicates that as of November 14, over 10.6 million current Medicaid members across the United States had not renewed their insurance.
This constitutes 35 percent of all enrollees, raising concerns about the health care of low-income people. Of those who failed to renew, 71% experienced procedural issues rather than a loss of eligibility.
In California, approximately 2 million out of 2.73 million existing Medi-Cal enrollees completed their renewals, leaving 27 percent at risk of losing their government-sponsored health coverage. Of the 730,000 who did not renew, only 12% were ineligible. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health insurance program.
Previously, CMS reinstated the Medicaid renewal mandate on April 1, following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic Public Health Emergency. This means that Medicaid enrollees must go through an annual renewal process to keep their government-sponsored health coverage.
To facilitate this, local Departments of Public Social Services (DPSS) are mailing renewal letters and forms to Medicaid enrollees. The DPSS emphasized that those who receive the mailings must fill out and return the forms with their address, annual income, and family relationships.
However, some Medicaid enrollees reportedly fail to renew due to neglecting the renewal mailings or facing difficulties in obtaining relevant information about the application process.
“Missed renewal mailings, language barriers, and complicated application forms can lead to failure of renewal opportunities,” said Jae Hee Lee, External Affairs & Communications Specialist at Kheir Community Clinic.
Medicaid recipients should always keep an eye on their mail. Enrollees who miss their renewal deadline still have 90 days to contact their social worker or the Department of Public Social Services with the appropriate documentation to maintain their Medicaid coverage.
The LA County Department of Public Social Services, among other organizations, will issue a 10-day notice prior to the expiration of Medicaid eligibility. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has information on how to enroll and renew Medi-Cal at www.dhcs.ca.gov and benefitscal.com.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, JUNHAN PARK [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
