Medicaid Unwinding in New Hampshire: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends 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 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage will stop nationwide on March 31, 2023.
An estimated 72,500 people could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage in New Hampshire. If you no longer qualify for Medicaid, or the state doesn’t have your current contact information, you could lose coverage as early as April 1, 2023.
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.
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 ending in May 2023 and the process of reinstating pre-COVID coverage rules — which is being called unwinding — is already in progress. Automatic Medicaid renewals stop nationwide on March 31, 2023 and each state has flexibility to determine when to drop coverage for enrollees who no longer qualify.
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New Hampshire Medicaid has started the Medicaid redetermination process, which reviews whether residents still qualify for coverage. Those who don’t qualify could lose Medicaid of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage as early as April 1, 2023.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
Medicaid is changing its renewal process because the COVID PHE is ending on May 11, 2023. COVID will remain a public health priority, but will not be considered a public health emergency. Because of this, automatic renewals for both Medicaid and CHIP are also ending.
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 New Hampshire?
Starting April 1, 2023, New Hampshire will handle Medicaid eligibility and enrollment as it did before the pandemic.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plans to reach out to all Medicaid enrollees in the state to determine their eligibility. Some people in New Hampshire may have received a notice of redetermination, which is a request for Medicaid renewal information. So keep an eye out for a yellow letter in the mail or a notification through your NH EASY account.
Once you’re contacted by the DHHS, you’ll need to complete the redetermination process or provide information to see if you still qualify for coverage. You can do this online, by mail, or in person.
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In late 2022, New Hampshire launched a public awareness campaign about the termination of continuous coverage. As a result, nearly 30,000 Medicaid enrollees completed their renewal process early.
Medicaid benefits in New Hampshire are expected to end gradually, so you won’t necessarily lose coverage right away if you no longer qualify. In fact, the Medicaid unwinding in New Hampshire could take about a year to complete. But that doesn’t mean you should wait to act. Contact the DHHS as soon as possible to update your contact information and check whether you’re still eligible for benefits.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in New Hampshire?
More than 230,000 people in New Hampshire were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP at the end of February 2023. While some enrollees completed the redetermination process early, about 72,500 people are still at risk of losing coverage during the state’s unwinding process.
Medicaid eligibility in New Hampshire is based on several factors, including:
Citizenship or immigration status
Residency
Age
You may be at higher risk of losing coverage during the unwinding process if:
You’ve moved since 2020 and haven’t updated your contact information with the DHHS.
You were enrolled in Medicaid during the PHE but didn’t have coverage before.
You have a disability that limits your ability to reapply for coverage.
If you lose coverage but believe 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 looking 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, 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:
Granite Advantage Health Care Program: This program provides affordable health insurance to New Hampshire residents with low incomes who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace: If you qualify for a premium subsidy, you may be able to get coverage for as low as $10 or less per month through the ACA exchange. Losing your Medicaid coverage will trigger an unwinding special enrollment period (SEP) that lasts from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024. During this SEP, you can purchase an insurance plan through the ACA marketplace.
Employer plan: Depending on your job, you may be able to take advantage of 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.
If you decide to look for coverage through the ACA marketplace, New Hampshire Health Market Connect and New Hampshire Navigator can help you determine your eligibility, as well as help you select and enroll in a plan.
New Hampshire Medicaid resources
Here are some resources where you can learn more about Medicaid in New Hampshire and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
New Hampshire Medicaid office: The New Hampshire DHHS (DHHS) oversees the state’s Medicaid program.
New Hampshire Medicaid self-service portal: You can access your Medicaid account 24/7 through NH EASY, where you can update your contact information and learn more about coverage renewal.
DHHS call center: If you need to reach New Hampshire Medicaid, call the DHHS customer service center at 844-275-3447.
The bottom line
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending on May 11, 2023 and will cause changes to Medicaid coverage in New Hampshire. If you’re currently enrolled in Medicaid, you could lose coverage as early as April 1, 2023.
If you believe you are still eligible for Medicaid, keep an eye out for renewal notices. As long as the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has your current contact information on file, they should be sending you something in the mail. If you don’t receive anything, check your NH EASY account or contact DHHS for more information.
If your Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage is terminated, you may qualify for other options, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans or job-based health 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). COVID-19: Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Center 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).
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). NH Medicaid (medical assistance) eligibility for adults.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). 230.01 Granite Advantage eligibility criteria (MAM).
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Continuous Medicaid coverage is ending.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). New Hampshire Bureau of Family Assistance (BFA) program fact sheet.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). New Hampshire Medicaid enrollment demographic trends and geography.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). NH DHHS announces plans to resume regular Medicaid eligibility operations beginning April 1.
Timmins, A. (2022). 90,800 Granite Staters could lose Medicaid coverage in October. New Hampshire Bulletin.
Timmins, A. (2023). With 72,500 at risk of losing Medicaid, DHHS moves from friendly to urgent ‘contact us’ letters. New Hampshire Bulletin.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
