Medicaid Unwinding in Ohio: What You Need to Know
Key takeaways:
Medicaid in Ohio is changing because the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending on May 11, 2023. This is called the unwinding of Medicaid, and some people will lose coverage during this process.
Medicaid renewals were automatic during the PHE, which gave enrollees continuous coverage. As part of the unwinding, automatic Medicaid and Children’s Medicaid (CHIP) renewals will stop nationwide on March 31, 2023.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid began to determine who is currently eligible for Medicaid February 2023. The state will begin mailing letters to those who no longer qualify in April 2023. You could lose coverage as early as May 1, 2023.
In January 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19. The declaration remained active through February 2023.
If you were enrolled in Medicaid during the PHE, there’s a good chance you didn’t lose your health insurance. That’s because states were required to provide continuous coverage during the pandemic.
The PHE will end on May 11, 2023, along with automatic renewals for Medicaid enrollees. This is called the unwinding of Medicaid. When the PHE ends, COVID-19 will remain a public health priority — but not an emergency.
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Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
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 people nationwide risk losing Medicaid coverage.
An estimated 220,000 people in Ohio may lose Medicaid or Children’s Medicaid (CHIP) coverage.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Ohio?
In Ohio, the unwinding process began on February 1, 2023. As a result, some Ohioans will lose Medicaid as the state decides who is still eligible (which is known as redetermination). The first round of termination letters for this group of enrollees will begin to be sent out in April 2023.
You may no longer qualify for Medicaid if you:
Had a change in health status
Had an increase in income that puts you above the state’s yearly income requirements for Medicaid eligibility
Moved to a different state
Lost Social Security income
Eligible Medicaid recipients will receive a renewal letter from their county’s Department of Job and Family Services (JFS). State and county officials will need your current contact information to reach you.
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You can update your contact information by:
Calling 844-640-6446, Monday through Friday, from 8AM to 4PM local time
Visiting your county JFS office or mailing your information to them
Using the Ohio Benefits self-service portal
If you get a renewal letter from a county JFS, you must respond quickly through the self-service portal, in person, or by phone. Your Medicaid benefits could end if you don’t respond or provide the requested information.
Here is an example of the Ohio Medicaid renewal form. During the renewal process, you might need to provide the following for yourself and any household members:
Tax forms
Pay stubs
Health insurance policy numbers
Other financial information
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Ohio?
If your Medicaid in Ohio isn’t renewed, you will no longer have Medicaid coverage.
It’s important to note that if you lose coverage but believe you qualify, you should reapply for Medicaid. You can call the Ohio Department of Medicaid at 1-800-324-8680 for help reapplying.
You may be uninsured for a while if you reapply and wait to be approved again for Medicaid. In that case, you can consider free and low-cost healthcare options or use 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 with one of these options:
Affordable Care Act marketplace: Through the Affordable Care Act (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 a special enrollment period that will last from March 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024. This allows you to purchase an insurance plan on the ACA marketplace. Get Covered Ohio offers free assistance with comparing plans and completing your ACA application from licensed and trained insurance navigators. You can call Get Covered Ohio at 833-628-4467.
Employer plan: You may now have a job that offers health coverage.
Medicare: If you have a qualifying disability or condition — such as end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or 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: You may be eligible for a campus health plan if you’re enrolled in a college or university.
Veterans Affairs: If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage or Veterans Affairs benefits and services.
Ohio Medicaid resources
Here are some sites where you can learn more about Medicaid in Ohio and upcoming changes related to the end of the public health emergency:
Browse information from the Ohio Medicaid office. Visit the Ohio Department of Medicaid online to find out more about the unwinding.
Learn how to apply for or renew Medicaid in Ohio. Get step-by-step instructions from this site.
Renew your Ohio Medicaid. Use this form to renew your Medicaid online, by phone, in person, or by mail.
Update your contact information. Log into your Medicaid account through the Ohio Benefits self-service portal or call 800-324-8680 to provide current contact information.
Call the Ohio Medicaid consumer hotline. Call 800-324-8680 to speak to a representative from Ohio Medicaid.
Get answers about the unwinding in Ohio. View this list of frequently asked questions.
Learn more about Ohio Medicaid coverage. Find out who is eligible for Ohio Medicaid.
The bottom line
Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic because the COVID-19 public health emergency is ending.
Ohio began reviewing Medicaid cases in February 2023 to see who remains eligible, and the first letters notifying enrollees that they no longer have coverage will be mailed in April 2023. This process is called the unwinding. An estimated 220,000 people in Ohio may lose Medicaid coverage because of ineligibility or because they cannot be reached for a renewal review.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid is sending Medicaid renewal letters to people. Be sure to update your contact information and respond to any requests for information.
If you lose Medicaid coverage, you may qualify for other health insurance options. These include a plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, job-based insurance, or Medicare if you have a qualifying condition.
Why trust our experts?
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Dennis, J. (2023). Are you one of the 200K Ohioans losing Medicaid in April? What to know and what to do. Fox 8.
Ohio Department of Medicaid. (n.d.). Medicaid renewal form.
Ohio Department of Medicaid. (n.d.). Who qualifies.
Ohio Department of Medicaid. (2023). Resuming routine Medicaid eligibility operations.
Tolbert, J., et al. (2023). 10 things to know about the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. Kaiser Family Foundation.
U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). VA /DoD health affairs.
