Key takeaways:
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending on May 11, 2023. Because of this, Medicaid renewals will be changing 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 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
Kansas has started to determine who is currently eligible for Medicaid. Make sure KanCare has your current contact information if you’re enrolled in Medicaid in the state. If you can’t be reached or no longer qualify for Medicaid, you could lose coverage as early as May 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-19 PHE, Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health insurance coverage without eligibility reviews. That’s because states and territories were required to provide continuous coverage during this period.
The COVID PHE will stop on May 11, 2023. Automatic renewals for Medicaid enrollees have already ended, as of March 31, 2023. So states, including Kansas, are resuming reviews of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees to determine who is eligible for coverage. This process is called redetermination.
If you or your family members no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, you could lose coverage as early as May 1, 2023. Here’s how to prepare for Medicaid changes in Kansas and what to do if you lose your coverage.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
After the PHE ends, COVID-19 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 will affect Medicaid in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Kansas?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is the agency responsible for overseeing the state’s Medicaid program, which is known as KanCare. The KDHE has made the state’s redetermination plan available for residents who want to know more about how Kansas intends to handle Medicaid’s unwinding.
State officials estimate that 100,000 to 125,000 people in Kansas may lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage through the unwinding process.
For the next year, Kansas will review the Medicaid eligibility of households in order of their renewal date. Reviews are started the month before they are due. In March 2023, the first renewal packets were sent out to households whose renewal dates are in April.
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During this process, some households will get a letter saying their KanCare coverage was automatically renewed. If your coverage can’t be automatically renewed because the state needs more information, you will be notified as early as 45 days before your renewal date. The state will send a letter by mail with instructions and a deadline for you to submit a review form and any requested supporting documentation. You will have about 30 days to submit the requested information either by mail or online.
If you miss the initial deadline to submit your review form and any other requested information, you will automatically lose your Medicaid coverage. But you will be contacted again and then will have 90 days from losing coverage to submit your review form and any additional information the state requests. If you’re still eligible and the review is completed within those 90 days, your coverage will be backdated so that you won’t have a coverage gap.
It’s important that KanCare has your up-to-date contact information. You can update your information by visiting the KanCare website and clicking on the red chat box or by calling the Kansas Medicaid office at 1-800-792-4884.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Kansas?
If Kansas 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.
In order to receive Medicaid in Kansas, you must meet the following criteria:
You are a Kansas resident.
You are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You need assistance accessing low-cost healthcare or insurance coverage.
Your annual household income before taxes are withheld meets the limit for your household size.
And you are one of the following:
Currently pregnant
Responsible for the care of a child who is 18 years old or younger
Blind
65 years old or older (and meet certain criteria)
Person with a disability or a household member of someone who has a qualifying disability
If you no longer meet the eligibility guidelines, your Medicaid coverage in Kansas won’t be renewed. However, your application will be reviewed to see if you or your family members qualify for another KanCare program.
If you lose coverage but believe you still qualify, you should reapply for Medicaid in Kansas. You may be uninsured for a while if you reapply for Medicaid and need 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.
You should see if you qualify for coverage elsewhere if you don’t plan to reapply for Medicaid and aren’t eligible for another government healthcare program. Depending on your 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. If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you’ll be able to get an ACA plan during an unwinding special enrollment period 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 want to take advantage of employer-sponsored healthcare if you have a job that offers health insurance benefits.
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.
Kansas Medicaid resources
Here are some sites where you can learn more about Medicaid in Kansas and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Kansas Medicaid office: The KDHE oversees Medicaid in Kansas, which is called KanCare.
Kansas Medicaid managed care: Most people in Kansas who are enrolled in Medicaid receive services through 1 of 3 KanCare health plan providers.
Kansas Medicaid self-service portal: You can log in to your Medicaid account 24/7 through KanCare’s self-service portal to update your contact information and to learn more about Medicaid and CHIP renewal.
Kansas Medicaid redetermination plan: Read more about the state’s unwinding plan and the answers to frequently asked questions.
The bottom line
Because the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is coming to an end, Medicaid is changing through a process called unwinding. These changes include an end to automatic Medicaid renewals, which stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
Kansas will spend a year reviewing Medicaid eligibility for enrollees in the state. The first renewal packets were mailed in March 2023 and will be reviewed in April 2023. So some residents could lose coverage as early as May 1, 2023.
If you’re enrolled in Medicaid in Kansas, you’ll be contacted by mail about your eligibility and possible renewal. It’s important to update your contact information on KanCare’s website or by calling the KanCare Clearinghouse at 1-800-792-4884, so that you can be reached when it’s your turn for a renewal review.
If you lose your Medicaid coverage, you may still qualify for health insurance through another provider. 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.
Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Kansas Medicaid.
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 (FAQ).
KanCare. (2022). KanCare update November 2022.
KanCare. (2023. State report on plans for prioritizing and distributing renewals following the end of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provisions.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment. (n.d.). Continuous enrollment unwinding FAQs.
Medicaid.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.
