Medicaid Coverage Disenrollments Approach 2M

July 13, 2023

State health leaders are reminding Pennsylvanians who need to reenroll in the Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) about the critical steps to stay covered.

This week, officials with the Shapiro administration and Independence Health System hosted an event at Butler Memorial Hospital focused on the end of continuous Medicaid enrollment and what Pennsylvanians should do during the enrollment and redetermination process.

“We want to make sure that every Pennsylvanian who is eligible for Medicaid stays on Medicaid,” Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) secretary, said in a statement. “If you or a someone you know has their health coverage through the state, please make sure their address and all contact information is up to date with DHS so everyone is ready to renew and stay covered when it's time."

Here’s what you need to know:

• The issue:  During April, Pennsylvania restarted its process to determine eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP. The process had been halted since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • No one will lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage without having an opportunity to renew their coverage or update their information. 
  • Those determined to be ineligible will be directed to the state insurance marketplace, Pennie, and other avenues for coverage.
• Overall totals:  The number of beneficiaries removed from the Medicaid rolls totals nearly two million in the U.S., including nearly 100,000 in Pennsylvania, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation tracker.
• Reasons for coverage loss:  About 44 percent of Pennsylvanians who were disenrolled lost coverage due to procedural reasons. This can occur due to outdated contact information or when enrollee submissions are not completed in time.
• To do list:  If you have coverage via the state, it’s important to update your information to get the latest about your eligibility for coverage.
  • You can update your information and check your renewal date online, via the free myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling (215) 560-7226 or (877) 395-8930 if outside Philadelphia.
• Quotable:  “It is essential that providers and governmental leaders work together to communicate the need for timely renewal and outline the process to ensure continued coverage of those eligible for these important programs,” said Karen Allen, president of Butler and Clarion Hospital of Independence Health System.

With the end of continuous enrollment, DHS—in partnership with provider organizations, including HAP—has developed resources to help providers share important information with patients.

DHS’s stakeholder toolkit includes printable education materials, scripts for conversations with patients, and digital assets, such as social media posts and website graphics. The toolkit is available online.