Medicaid Unwinding in Arkansas: What You Need to Know
Key takeaways:
Medicaid in Arkansas is changing because the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending on May 11, 2023. This will lead to a loss of coverage through a process being 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 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage will stop nationwide on March 31, 2023.
In Arkansas, residents could lose coverage as early as April 1, 2023. Though states are each taking their own approach to eligibility reviews, Arkansas plans to complete the Medicaid redetermination process by the end of the year.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020. The PHE declaration was renewed a dozen times through February 2023.
Medicaid renewal changed during the COVID PHE, which lasted for 3 years. States were required to provide continuous coverage during the pandemic. So people who were enrolled in Medicaid during those years typically didn’t have to worry about losing coverage.
But the PHE is coming to an end in May 2023, and states will now review everyone receiving Medicaid to determine if they’re still eligible for coverage. Most states are aiming to complete the process in 12 months, but Arkansas plans to do it in about half the time.
Prescription Savings Are Just the Beginning
See what other benefits you qualify for—from cashback cards to cheaper insurance.
Because of the end of the PHE, more than 586,000 people in Arkansas may lose Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, according to a state estimate.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
The COVID PHE will end on May 11, 2023. COVID will remain a public health priority, but will not be considered a public health emergency.
As a result, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This process of reinstating pre-COVID coverage rules is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid.
The unwinding process will affect Medicaid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. That means millions of people nationwide risk losing Medicaid coverage.
What is happening with Medicaid renewal in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is handling the Medicaid unwinding process. The agency has an unwinding plan detailing how the state intends to handle the unwinding process. According to the plan, Arkansas expects to spend 6 months contacting and evaluating coverage for Medicaid enrollees this year.
You can verify your contact information by calling the Update Arkansas hotline at 844-872-2660, checking your Access Arkansas account online, or visiting the DHS county office in your area.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Arkansas will automatically renew your Medicaid coverage if you’re still eligible and the DHS has all your current information. If the DHS can’t confirm that you qualify for renewal on its own, you should receive a renewal packet at least 90 days before it needs to be submitted.
Renewal support team members will contact you by mail, phone, email, or in person before your renewal packet goes out. And they will contact you again if they don’t receive a response after your forms are sent out or if the forms are returned to them because of a wrong address.
You can also reach the Arkansas Medicaid office by phone at 800-482-5431.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Arkansas?
If Arkansas doesn’t renew your Medicaid benefits during an eligibility review called redetermination, you will no longer have coverage. Some reasons that could cause you to lose your eligibility include:
Your income is more than the maximum allowed for your household size.
You haven’t provided the information requested to renew your coverage.
Your health status has changed.
You received Medicaid because you were in foster care and you’ve turned 26 years old.
If you lose coverage but believe that you qualify for Medicaid, you should reapply. But you may be uninsured for a while if you have to reapply and wait to be approved. In that case, you should consider pursuing 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, you should see if you qualify for coverage elsewhere. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be able to find health insurance through one of these options:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace: Through the ACA exchange, you may be able to find coverage for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. Losing your Medicaid coverage will trigger an unwinding special enrollment period (SEP) that lasts from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024. During the unwinding SEP, you can purchase an insurance plan on the ACA marketplace.
Employer plan: If you have a job that offers health coverage benefits, you may be eligible for employer-sponsored 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 period or SEP.
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.
Arkansas Medicaid resources
Here are some websites where you can learn more about Medicaid in Arkansas and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Arkansas Medicaid office: The Arkansas DHS oversees the state’s Medicaid program.
Renew Arkansas: Learn about how to renew your Medicaid coverage with the help of the state’s renewal campaign.
Access Arkansas: Visit the Access Arkansas portal to make sure your mailing address, email, and other contact information is correct.
Arkansas Medicaid redetermination plan: Get information about the state’s unwinding process, including the timeline of changes, by reading the DHS’ Medicaid redetermination plan.
Other Medicaid contact information: More phone numbers and email addresses for Medicaid clients are available on the Arkansas DHS’ website.
The bottom line
COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency (PHE) by the federal government in January 2020. As a result, states had to automatically renew Medicaid coverage for enrollees. But now, the PHE is coming to an end.
Ahead of the COVID PHE ending on May 11, 2023, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) has started reviewing all Medicaid enrollees to determine who is still eligible. The state projects that more than 586,000 people in Arkansas may lose Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage during this unwinding process. And people could begin losing coverage as early as April 1, 2023.
If you’re enrolled in Medicaid, you’ll be notified about your renewal or eligibility by mail, so it’s important to update your contact information with the state. If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you may be able to get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange or via other options.
Why trust our experts?
References
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Services for older youth or former foster youth.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2023). Arkansas comprehensive unwinding plan.
Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Arkansas Medicaid program.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2023). Temporary special enrollment period (SEP) for consumers losing Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition — Frequently asked questions.
HHS.gov. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
HHS.gov. (2023). COVID-19: Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
