The end of the public health emergency and restart of Medicaid renewals

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), Apple Health (Medicaid) clients  received uninterrupted health coverage without having to renew coverage every year. Clients did not have to complete the Eligibility Review (ER) process.

Now that the PHE ended, all Medicaid clients must go through the annual ER process. When their renewal date is near, all Apple Health MAGI* clients should get a renewal letter by mail from Washington Healthplanfinder and all Classic Medicaid** (Apple Health Blind & Disabled) clients should get a renewal letter from DSHS. The member should read the letter, follow the instructions, and return any requested information as soon as possible.

If clients do not take action to respond to required outreach, Apple Health coverage will be terminated.  All clients who are terminated for not responding to required outreach will have the opportunity to appeal their termination. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) clients have 90 days from the termination date to complete their renewal and be retroactively reinstated from the termination date, if eligible without a gap in coverage. Apple Health Blind Disabled (Classic) clients will not be eligible for retroactive reinstatement and instead, will need to reapply for coverage.

Molina continues sending renewal reminders to our members, encouraging them to act as their renewal date approaches. We have used a variety of mechanisms to reach members; while many Molina Medicaid members have successfully renewed, some Molina Medicaid members did not complete the renewal process and have since lost Medicaid coverage. 

Below is a list of frequently asked questions and other valuable resources to help educate your Molina Medicaid members on the importance of updating their contact information and renewing their Medicaid coverage. In addition, we’ve provided guidance and resources so providers can help their Medicaid members restore coverage if it was terminated.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

 

Q: How are Medicaid clients impacted by the restart of Eligibility Reviews?

A: All Medicaid clients  will need to go through the renewal process based on their individual renewal date.  Clients who fail to respond to outreach required to complete their renewal will have their Apple Health coverage terminated. 

 

Q: When did the normal Medicaid enrollment and renewal process resume?
A:  Washington state resumed redetermination efforts and reinstated pre-PHE process on 4/1/23.

 

Q: What can individuals do to prepare for their upcoming renewal date?
A: First and foremost, all Medicaid clients should make sure their contact information, including their mailing address and phone number(s) are up to date with their state to ensure they receive important notices about the renewal process. 

Learn how our members can update their contact information with their state and Molina online at www.molinahealthcare.com/updatemyinfo/WA.

Ask our members, your patients, to make sure they keep an eye out for information and notices about their coverage and renewal process and respond quickly to any instructions they receive. Learn more about the renewal process for members and the assistance available to them online at www.molinahealthcare.com/keepmyhealthplan/WA.

Q: What is Molina doing to support renewal efforts? 
A: Throughout the PHE, Molina  continued to send regular reminders and outreach to our members starting 60 days before their renewal date via: 

• Text messages
• Emails
• Outreach calls
• Mailers
• My Molina mobile app and member portal notices 

This outreach has continued after redetermination was reinstated. We focus on reminding our members to renew their benefits when it’s their turn through an awareness campaign that includes: 

•    A video explaining what the end of the PHE means for their Medicaid coverage
•    A national landing page to point them to their state-specific resources
•    Social media posts and on-hold messaging to remind members they will need to take action to keep their benefits.

 

If there are members who didn't complete the steps to renew their Medicaid benefits, we'll reach out to them and work with them to re-enroll and renew their Medicaid benefits and coverage. 

 

Q: How can providers help prepare their patients for redetermination? 
A: We need your help reminding patients to update their contact information. We also need your help reminding your Medicaid patients that they need to renew to keep their coverage. Information on how to check your member’s renewal date in Availity Essentials is available here. Renewal information and renewal steps can also be found on our website here. 

Share the information and resources located in the Redetermination Resources section with your patients by printing and displaying in your office. There are several flyers and handouts available for printing and sharing. 

Q. What happens if a client misses their renewal date and loses coverage?

If a client is an Apple Health Family, Apple Health Adult, or CHIP (MAGI) client and missed the deadline to renew but would like to continue coverage:

  • The client should contact Washington Healthplanfinder as soon as possible. If they are found eligible within 90 days after the date they lost coverage, they will be covered for the period they were without coverage. The fastest way to renew lost coverage is to go online. They may also call (855) 923-4633.

If a client is an Apple Health Blind Disabled (Classic) client and they missed the deadline to renew and coverage was terminated, they will need to reapply.


If a client needs assistance, they can email Molina at healthplanrenewals@MolinaHealthcare.com or call us at (866) 916-0916.

 

Q: What happens if an individual is no longer eligible for Medicaid and loses coverage?
A: If an individual no longer qualifies for Medicaid coverage they'll get: 

  • A notice in the mail from either Washington Healthplan finder or DSHS with the with the date their Medicaid coverage will end
  • Information on how to file an appeal if they think the decision to cancel their coverage was incorrect. If a determination that cancellation of coverage was incorrect occurs within 90 days of the termination date, the client will be retroactively reinstated from the termination date, without a gap in coverage. 

 

Q: What are some other health care coverage choices if an individual no longer qualifies for Medicaid?
A: If a member no longer qualifies for Medicaid, they might be eligible for a Marketplace or Medicare health plan.

To learn more about our Marketplace health plans, please visit MolinaMarketplace.com or call (844)794-3635.

To learn more about our Medicare health plans, please visit MolinaMedicare.com or call (866) 403-8293.

        

Q: How can I get more information about the redetermination process?
A: Please contact your provider services representative if you have any questions or would like more information.