Medicaid Unwinding in Arizona: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
Automatic Medicaid renewals are ending as the COVID-19 public health emergency sunsets. This process is called the unwinding.
Arizona’s Medicaid agency — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — will start reviewing cases for eligibility. If you or a family member no longer qualify for Medicaid or KidsCare, you could lose coverage as soon as April 1, 2023.
Make sure AHCCCS has your current contact information. Otherwise, you could lose your health insurance. If you lose Medicaid during the unwinding, you have options that might include choosing a plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020. The declaration was renewed a dozen times through February 2023.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) paused Medicaid renewals for about three years. States were required to provide continuous coverage during the pandemic, meaning that people on Medicaid had their health insurance automatically renewed without having to show eligibility. But now that the PHE is ending, Medicaid renewals will resume in Arizona.
Anyone who no longer meets Arizona’s Medicaid and KidsCare (Children’s Medicaid or CHIP) requirements could lose their health insurance as early as April 1, 2023. Arizona’s Medicaid agency — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — estimates that nearly 600,000 people in the state will lose Medicaid coverage during the unwinding period. Half of those people will lose their insurance because they are no longer eligible for Medicaid, but the other half will lose coverage because they don’t respond to state requests for their current contact information. Keep reading to find out what’s happening in Arizona and what to do if you lose your Medicaid coverage.
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Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
The PHE allowed everyone on Medicaid and CHIP to keep their benefits during the pandemic — but this was temporary. The PHE will end on May 11, 2023. This process of returning to the normal renewal system is being referred to as the unwinding. The unwinding will affect Medicaid in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. That means millions of Americans nationwide could lose Medicaid coverage during this unwinding period.
The end of automatic Medicaid renewals in Arizona means people could lose coverage as soon as April 1, 2023.
What is happening with Medicaid renewal in Arizona?
AHCCCS approved more than 500,000 new applications for Medicaid coverage between 2020 and 2022. Now that the PHE is unwinding, the agency may cut benefits for anyone who doesn’t currently meet coverage qualifications.
Your eligibility could be affected if:
Your household’s monthly income changed.
The number of people in your household changed.
You moved and did not update your contact information.
You experienced (or recovered from) a qualifying disability.
You were or are pregnant.
You are receiving treatment for breast or cervical cancer.
You were incarcerated.
You can check the status of your Medicaid benefits with AHCCCS by visiting www.healthearizonaplus.gov or calling 855-432-7587.
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What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Arizona?
If you lose your Medicaid coverage because you no longer qualify, there are other free and low-cost healthcare options available. You can also use GoodRx to save on your prescription medications.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage but you believe you do actually qualify, you can reapply. Contact an Arizona community assistor if you need help with an application.
If you lose your Medicaid or KidsCare coverage, you may qualify for one or more of these alternative health insurance options:
Affordable Care Act marketplace: If you qualify for a premium subsidy you can get coverage for as little as $10 or less per month through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange. If your Medicaid coverage is terminated, you’ll be able to get an ACA plan during an unwinding special enrollment period that will last from March 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024. During this time, you can purchase an insurance plan on the ACA marketplace.
Employer plan: You may now have a job that offers employer-sponsored insurance.
Medicare: You can enroll in Medicare at any age if you have a qualifying disability or condition.
Partner’s plan: Your spouse or domestic partner might be able to add you to their plan.
Special plans: Short-term insurance may be one option. You could also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans such as indemnity or accident plans.
Student health plan: Most universities and some colleges offer campus health plans to students.
Veterans Affairs: Active-duty service members and veterans may qualify for TRICARE coverage or Veterans Affairs benefits and services.
Arizona Medicaid resources
For more information on Arizona’s Medicaid unwinding, you can check out the following:
Arizona Medicaid agency: The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) oversees the state’s Medicaid program.
Arizona Medicaid return to regular renewals: This site provides information about the state’s plan to resume the Medicaid renewal process.
Arizona Medicaid self-service portal: Use Health-e-Arizona to find your Medicaid account 24/7, or call 855-432-7587.
Arizona Medicaid eligibility: Here are the Medicaid and KidsCare (CHIP) guidelines and income requirements.
Arizona Medicaid help: Get free help with the Medicaid renewal process by contacting a community assistor, by visiting 211.org, or calling 211.
American Indians/Alaska Natives: The National Indian Health Board projects that about 236,000 American Indian/Alaska Native people will lose coverage because of the unwinding, and that includes 20,000 American Indian/Alaska Native people in Arizona.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals in Arizona end on March 31, 2023, and nearly 600,000 people in the state could lose their health insurance. You or someone in your household could lose Medicaid or KidsCare as soon as April 1, 2023. Make sure you update your contact information with AHCCCS. If you do lose your Medicaid coverage, you may be eligible for other health insurance options, including plans available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
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References
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2022). Unwinding from the public health emergency (PHE).
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2023). AHCCCS Eligibility requirements.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2023). Resuming regular Medicaid eligibility operations.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (n.d.). KidsCare - Arizona’s children’s health insurance program (CHIP).
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (n.d.). Who can apply?
Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services. (2023). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Disability Benefits 101: Arizona. (2023). The basics.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
