Key takeaways:
Medicaid in Alaska is changing because of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This will lead to a loss of coverage through a process called unwinding.
During the PHE, Medicaid renewals were automatic and enrollees had continuous coverage. As part of the unwinding process, automatic renewals for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
Alaska has started to determine who is currently eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, which is called Denali KidCare in the state. If you or your child is enrolled in one of these programs, make sure the Division of Public Assistance has your current contact information. If you can’t be reached or no longer qualify, you could lose coverage as early as June 1, 2023.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020, which was renewed a dozen times through February 2023.
During the COVID PHE, Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health insurance coverage without eligibility reviews. That’s because states were required to provide continuous coverage through March 31, 2023.
But the PHE is ending on May 11, 2023, along with automatic Medicaid renewals — which stopped nationwide on March 1, 2023. During this process called unwinding, some people in Alaska may lose Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, which is called Denali KidCare in the state.
Alaska, like other states, is resuming eligibility reviews to determine who qualifies for coverage through a process called redetermination. If you or your family members are no longer eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you could lose coverage as early as June 1, 2023.
Here’s how to prepare for Medicaid changes in Alaska and what to do if you lose your coverage.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
After the PHE ends, COVID will remain a public health priority — just not an emergency. As part of this process, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid, and millions of people nationwide risk losing Medicaid coverage.
The unwinding process will affect Medicaid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Alaska?
The Alaska Department of Health’s Division of Public Assistance began assessing current Medicaid enrollees’ eligibility in April and will spend the next year reviewing 260,000 cases. Alaska officials have said they don’t have an estimate of how many people could lose Medicaid or Denali KidCare coverage due to this process. But enrollees could lose coverage as soon as June 1, 2023.
If you’re enrolled in Medicaid in Alaska, it’s important for the Division of Public Assistance to have your current contact information. You can confirm or update your mailing address, email, or phone number by:
Visiting your MyAlaska portal account
Completing this Medicaid information update form online
Calling Alaska’s Medicaid information update hotline at 1-833-441-1870 to reach staff members dedicated to processing contact information changes
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You may have received information about the renewal process through postcards, social media, and other outreach. But don’t be alarmed if you haven’t or don’t immediately receive a renewal notification. Not all enrollees will need to send information to confirm eligibility. If you are someone who does, your renewal form should arrive around the anniversary of when you were originally approved for Medicaid.
As mentioned, the Division of Public Assistance state will first try to confirm your eligibility using electronic data sources. If you are automatically approved, you will receive a notice in the mail.
If the agency needs more information to confirm your eligibility, you will receive a yellow recertification form in the mail. You have 30 days to send in the completed form and any requested documents. If you don’t submit the requested information by the deadline, you risk losing coverage. And keep in mind that you cannot renew online.
If you are determined ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you will receive a notice in the mail at least 10 days before your coverage ends. This mailing will include information about how to appeal the decision and other options for healthcare coverage.
Before the COVID PHE, the state settled a federal lawsuit regarding Medicaid application processing backlogs. The Division of Public Assistance has reported that this system has been refined — despite complaints about continuing issues. To prevent similar backlog problems during the unwinding renewal process, the Division of Public Assistance has hired 35 new staff members to review cases.
If you have questions about Medicaid or Denali KidCare, call the Division of Public Assistance’s virtual contact center at 1-800-478-7778. Starting in June, the state plans to extend the call center’s hours by adding 75 additional staff members.
Tribal health and Medicaid unwinding
The state has been focusing on renewal outreach to Alaska Natives, who comprise nearly 40% of Alaska’s Medicaid enrollees. The National Indian Health Board estimates that as many as 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives could lose coverage during the unwinding process.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Alaska?
If Alaska doesn’t renew your Medicaid coverage during the redetermination process, you will no longer be able to use your benefits, which could leave you temporarily uninsured.
If you lose coverage because you didn’t respond to the recertification request, you can still submit the necessary information within 90 days of your case closing. Then, if you’re determined eligible, your coverage will be renewed and backdated to the closure date without you having to reapply.
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for Medicaid in Alaska:
You are an Alaska resident.
You are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You need assistance with access to healthcare or insurance coverage.
Your annual household income before taxes are withheld meets the limit for your household size.
And you must be one of the following:
Pregnant
In charge of caring for a child 18 years old or younger
Blind
65 years old or older (under certain conditions)
Have a disability or have a family member in your household who has a disability
If you no longer meet the eligibility guidelines, your Medicaid coverage in Alaska won’t be renewed.
If you lose coverage but believe you still qualify, you should reapply for Medicaid in Alaska. You may be uninsured for a while if you reapply, because you’ll have to wait to be approved again. In that case, you may want to look into free and low-cost healthcare options. You can also use free GoodRx coupons to save on your prescription medications.
If you don’t plan to reapply for Medicaid and aren’t eligible for another government healthcare program, you should see if you qualify for coverage elsewhere. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to find health insurance through one of these options:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace: With an ACA plan, you may be able to find coverage for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you’ll qualify for an unwinding special enrollment period from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024. During this time, you may be able to purchase an insurance plan on the ACA marketplace.
Employer plan: If you are currently working, it’s possible your job offers health insurance.
Medicare: If you have a qualifying disability or condition — such as end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease — you can enroll in Medicare at any age.
Partner’s plan: If you have a spouse or domestic partner who has insurance, you may be able to join their plan during an open enrollment or special enrollment period.
Special plans: Short-term insurance can be a great choice if you anticipate a better option, like job-based health insurance, to be available soon. You may also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity, accident, cost-sharing, and catastrophic insurance plans.
Student health plan: If you’re enrolled in a college or university, you may be eligible for a campus health plan.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage or VA benefits and services.
Alaska Medicaid resources
Here are some sites where you can learn more about Medicaid in Alaska and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Alaska Medicaid office: The Alaska Department of Health’s Division of Public Assistance oversees Medicaid in the state.
Alaska Medicaid self-service portal: You can log in to your Medicaid account 24/7 through the MyAlaska portal to confirm or update your contact information.
Alaska Medicaid unwinding FAQs: Get answers to frequently asked questions about the end of continuous Medicaid coverage.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals ended on March 31, 2023, ahead of the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) in May.
Starting in April 2023, Alaska began a yearlong process of reviewing Medicaid enrollees’ eligibility. During that time, you could be renewed because the state has enough information about you. Otherwise, you should receive a yellow recertification form in the mail. You could lose coverage as early as June 1 as part of this process.
It’s important to update your mailing address, email, and phone number with the Alaska Department of Health’s Division of Public Assistance, which will be determining eligibility for Medicaid and Denali KidCare — Alaska’s versions of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is especially important when it’s your turn to renew.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you may still qualify for health insurance elsewhere. Your options may include Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans, Medicare, or job-based insurance.
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References
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Alaska Department of Health. (2023). Alaska restarts requirement for annual renewal process to receive Medicaid benefits.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (n.d.) Denali KidCare.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (n.d.) Division of Public Assistance.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Health Care Services. (n.d.) Medicaid.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (n.d.). Medicaid renewals FAQs.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (n.d.). Tribal health.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (2023). Alaska mitigation strategies.
Alaska Department of Health Division of Public Assistance. (2023). Medicaid income eligibility standards.
Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Alaska Medicaid.
Berman, A. (2023). State encourages Alaskans on Medicaid to update contact information as eligibility reviews resume. Anchorage Daily News.
Maguire, S. (2023). Alaska’s Medicaid backlog violates federal and state law, attorneys say. Anchorage Daily News.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
State of Alaska. (2023). Alaska restarts requirement for annual renewal process to receive Medicaid benefits.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 Things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Tribal Health Reform Resource Center. (n.d.). Medicaid unwinding.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). VA & TRICARE information.
