More than 80,500 Michiganders lost Medicaid coverage in June alone
More than 80,500 Michiganders lost Medicaid coverage in June alone as part of a national redetermination effort that requires everyone who has traditional Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan or MIChild to reenroll over the next nine months to maintain their coverage or risk losing it.
That means about 37% of the 216,000 Michigan residents who were scheduled to renew their plans in June were knocked off the Medicaid rolls, according to new data released Tuesday by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
If that pace continues and 37% of the 3.25 million Medicaid enrollees in Michigan lose their eligibility each month through the process, roughly 1.2 million people statewide could be dropped from Medicaid programs and lose health insurance coverage by May 2024.
Meghan Groen, who oversees Michigan's Medicaid program and is the senior deputy director for the Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration at the state health department, said it's too soon to predict whether each month of the redetermination process will see a similar rate of disenrollment.
"This is our first month where we have a complete set of data to look at," she told the Free Press on Tuesday. "I'm a little bit hesitant to take one month and say that's going to happen every month. I think once we get a couple months of data in and see if that's consistent, we'll know a little bit more. What we have today is just that June cohort."
However, if 1.2 million Michiganders were to be dropped from Medicaid enrollment during the redetermination process, the total number of enrollees would fall to about 2 million — about 400,000 lower than pre-pandemic levels. In February and March 2020, roughly 2.4 million people were enrolled in Michigan Medicaid programs, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state health department.
Who lost Medicaid coverage in Michigan in June?
Of those who lost Medicaid coverage in June in Michigan, about 81% — or 65,444 people — were dropped for procedural reasons, meaning they didn’t turn in their paperwork on time or failed to produce documents needed to process their application, such as pay stubs, bank statements or driver's license details, state data shows.
The remaining 19% lost benefits because their income or assets now exceed eligibility requirements or they have access to employer-based insurance, moved out of a household where they previously were eligible or because they died.
The state health department said Tuesday it couldn't detail how many of the roughly 80,500 Michiganders who lost Medicaid coverage are children. Information about the racial and ethnic backgrounds of those who were disenrolled also was not available Tuesday.
Another chance to enroll with retroactive coverage
Groen said Michiganders who lost Medicaid coverage for deadline or other procedural reasons are eligible for retroactive coverage if they complete the process now.
Those who were disenrolled in June will have until Oct. 30 to return the enrollment packet or submit missing documentation, Groen said.
"They just need to send it back to us and verify that it's correct or give us the correct information ... to be able to retroactively be put back in that Medicaid program," she said.
"That means any expenses that were incurred ... until (Oct. 30), if they get that packet in, that will actually be covered."
In addition, a person who gets dropped from Medicaid because documents weren't submitted on time and also missed the Oct. 30 deadline for retroactive coverage can still reenroll later.
"Medicaid is a little bit different than some of the products on the commercial market. We do have rolling enrollment," Groen said. "So if let's say it's (November) and one of those individuals who was disenrolled says, 'Oh my goodness, I do want to have that Medicaid coverage,' they will still be able to enroll at that time. It just won't be retroactive.
"If you missed that window, we will still take you as part of our Medicaid program and we're happy to have you as long as you meet income and eligibility requirements."
Why are people losing their Medicaid coverage?
It’s all part of the federal "unwinding of Medicaid," or Medicaid redetermination. What it means is that for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, people who have had their Medicaid insurance coverage automatically renewed each year must reapply to continue their coverage.
Those whose income has risen beyond eligibility requirements or who now qualify for employer-based insurance plans may be dropped from the programs. Some people who remain eligible could be taken off the Medicaid rolls because they didn't get the renewal paperwork or didn't understand what to do with it.
How can I find out when my Medicaid plan will renew?
Beneficiaries can check to see when they must renew as part of Medicaid redetermination at michigan.gov/MIBridges. From now through May 2024, people will get notification on a rolling basis about their three-month window to apply.
If, for example, your Medicaid renewal month is October, you’ll get a letter in August informing you about the need to reapply. The following month, September, you would get a renewal packet in the mail. And you’d have to submit the paperwork before the deadline in October to keep your coverage.
I don't think I'll qualify. Should I still submit Medicaid reenrollment documents?
Yes. Medicaid beneficiaries are encouraged to complete and return their forms as soon as possible, even if they do not believe they are still eligible for coverage.
That's because some members of a household may still be able to get benefits even if others are ineligible. For example, a child may be covered by MiChild even if a parent is not eligible for other Medicaid programs. Or some Michiganders may have income that is over the income limit for one program but still be able to obtain health care benefits through another program.
"We're trying to encourage people to return their packet, even if they believe they might be over income, because their children might still be eligible," Groen said. "We do enrollment on an individual basis in Michigan. So for MIChild, the income eligibility is higher, so we may be able to cover children even if we can't cover the whole household. ... We're definitely interested in making sure that children have the coverage they need."
More: 3.17 million Michiganders must reapply for Medicaid. Why it matters now.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage?
Those who no longer qualify for Medicaid or Healthy Michigan Plans will get additional information about other options available, including through the Health Insurance Marketplace on HealthCare.gov.
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services also is working to help people purchase affordable health insurance if they are dropped from the Medicaid rolls. For assistance, call 877-999-6442 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or go online at Michigan.gov/StayCovered.
What do I need to do to ensure I can keep Medicaid coverage?
State health leaders encourage Michiganders enrolled in traditional Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan to:
Make sure your address, phone number and email address are up to date at michigan.gov/MIBridges. You can also call your local MDHHS office. If you do not have an online account for MI Bridges to access your Medicaid case or report changes, go to michigan.gov/MIBridges to sign up for an account.
Report any changes to your household or income. You can report changes at michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling your local MDHHS office.
If you get a renewal packet, be sure to fill it out, sign the forms and return it by the due date with any proof needed.
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.
Correction: This story was updated to correct the deadline to apply for retroactive coverage for people disenrolled in June. The state health department initially said that deadline was Sept. 30, but later revised that statement, saying the deadline actually is Oct. 30.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's Medicaid crisis: 80K+ residents lost coverage in June
