Medicaid Unwinding in Nevada: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
Medicaid renewals in Nevada are changing because of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This is being called the unwinding of Medicaid, and some people will lose coverage during this process.
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.
Nevada’s Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) has started reviewing Medicaid cases to determine current eligibility. Make sure the DWSS has your up-to-date contact information so that the state can reach you when it’s your turn to renew. If you’re no longer eligible for Medicaid or Nevada’s CHIP program — known as Nevada Check Up — you could lose coverage as early as June 1, 2023.
If you lose Medicaid coverage during the unwinding, you may qualify for a low-cost, alternative health insurance option, such as an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020. The PHE was renewed a dozen times between January 2020 and February 2023.
People who were eligible for Medicaid coverage during the PHE were able to keep their insurance, even if they were no longer eligible. This is because all states — including Nevada — were mandated to provide continuous coverage during the PHE.
The PHE ended on May 11, 2023, ahead of automatic renewalsor Medicaid. This process could cause 5 million to 14 million enrollees nationwide to lose Medicaid coverage.
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Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
Even though the PHE is over, COVID-19 remains a public health priority — just not an emergency. As part of this change, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid.
The unwinding will affect Medicaid in every state, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Nevada?
Nevada's Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) has resumed eligibility reviews for more than 900,000 people who are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — known as Nevada Check Up (NCU). The state notes that Medicaid enrollment swelled during the pandemic because of a difficult labor market in which people lost employment and income.
Eligibility reviews began in April 2023 and are expected to last through May 2024, during a process called redetermination. DWSS has a Medicaid unwinding plan that outlines how the state plans to conduct eligibility reviews for current enrollees.
The state already has enough eligibility information from other programs to renew some cases automatically. If more information is needed, your household will receive a renewal packet. The state reports that maintaining current contact information for enrollees has been difficult, so confirming or updating your mailing address is very important. You can do this by:
Logging in to your account on the Access Nevada portal
Completing the online Address change request form, which is accessible in English and Spanish
Calling the Access Nevada helpline at 1-800-992-0900 and choosing the Medicaid option you need
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If the DWSS has your contact information, they may send a text message or email to remind you about renewal.
Anyone who no longer qualifies could be disenrolled as early as June 1, 2023. The state estimates that about 200,000 people could be dropped by May 2024.
If you lose eligibility because your renewal packet isn’t returned by the deadline, you will have 90 days after the date you are determined ineligible to submit the packet for evaluation.
Tribal health and Medicaid unwinding
State liaisons are reaching out to people who are enrolled in Medicaid and are also members of or affiliated with one of the more than two dozen Native American tribes in Nevada. The National Indian Health Board estimates that as many as 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) could lose coverage during the unwinding process — including people in Nevada.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Nevada?
In order to receive Medicaid in Nevada, you must meet all of the following criteria:
You must be a Nevada resident.
You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You must need assistance with access to healthcare or insurance coverage.
Your annual household income before taxes are withheld must be below the limit for your household size.
In Nevada, you may also qualify for reasons other than income, including if you are:
Pregnant
A child or teenager
Responsible for the care of a child who is 18 years old or younger
Blind
65 years old or older (and meet certain criteria)
A person with a disability, or you have a person in your household who has a qualifying disability
A former foster child
In need of nursing home care
Age 19 and older with family planning needs
In need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer (and have been screened or are still undergoing treatment)
If you no longer qualify or DWSS can’t reach you, you will lose your benefits, which could leave you temporarily uninsured.
If you lose your coverage but believe you still qualify, you can reapply for Medicaid. You may be uninsured for a while until you’re approved for coverage again.
If you choose not to reapply for Medicaid coverage, or if you’re no longer eligible, you may qualify for other low-cost or free healthcare options. You can also use GoodRx coupons to save on your prescription medications.
In addition, you may be able to enroll in an alternative health insurance plan such as:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan: Nevada Health Link is the state’s ACA marketplace. Within this marketplace, you may be able to find an ACA health plan for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. If you lose Medicaid, you can purchase a plan on Nevada Health Link during the unwinding special enrollment period from March 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024.
Employer plan: Your company may offer employer-sponsored 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 that a better option, such as job-based health insurance, will be available soon. You may also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity, accident, cost-sharing, and catastrophic insurance.
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.
Nevada Medicaid resources
Here are some resources to help you learn more about Medicaid in Nevada and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Nevada Medicaid office: Nevada’s Division of Welfare and Supportive Services oversees and administers the Nevada Medicaid program.
Nevada Medicaid self-service portal: You can log into your Access Nevada account 24/7 to confirm or update your contact information.
Nevada Medicaid redetermination: Read more about Nevada’s Medicaid unwinding plan.
FAQs: Read more about Nevada’s Medicaid updates, learn how to stay covered, and find the answers to frequently asked questions.
Nevada Medicaid office assistance by phone: You can call the Access Nevada helpline at 1-800-992-0900 and choose the Medicaid option you need.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals stopped on March 31, 2023, in advance of the COVID-19 public health emergency's conclusion on May 11, 2023.
Nevada's Division of Welfare and Supportive Services will conduct redeterminations of eligibility from April 2023 through May 2024. Enrollees could lose coverage as early as June 1, 2023.
It’s important to confirm and update your contact information by logging into your Access Nevada account, calling the Access Nevada hotline, or completing an online address update form. The state has enough information from other programs to renew some cases automatically. If your renewal isn’t processed that way, your household will receive a renewal packet. Be sure to return your renewal packet by the deadline.
If you lose Medicaid, you might be eligible for an Affordable Care Act plan through the Nevada Health Link marketplace.
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References
Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Nevada Medicaid.
Centers for Medicare & 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).
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Frequently asked questions: Unwinding of the continuous enrollment condition and COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Nevada Medicaid COVID-19 public health emergency operational unwinding plan.
NV.gov. (n.d.). Division of welfare and supportive services.
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.
