The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revealed on Thursday that they have been granted new “flexibilities and strategies” by the federal government, allowing them to extend the deadline for individuals who were supposed to submit their renewal packets by June 30.
The state of Michigan has announced that Medicaid recipients who fail to submit their renewal forms by the end of June will not be disqualified
The new deadline has been moved to the end of July. Elizabeth Hertel, the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, expressed gratitude for the option provided by federal partners to delay coverage cancellations until the end of July. This extension allows the department more time to reach out to Medicaid beneficiaries who have not yet returned their renewal documents. However, Hertel emphasized the importance of submitting the June renewal forms by the end of this month instead of waiting until July.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, June has marked the first month in which Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan recipients are required to renew their coverage after the renewal requirement was put on hold during the health emergency. The renewal process will take place in waves from June 2023 to May 2024.
During the pandemic, over 3 million Michigan residents were covered by Medicaid
However, due to the conclusion of the continuous enrollment period, which served as a safety net for enrollees during COVID-19, Michigan’s Medicaid program could lose more than 200,000 participants after a year-long re-evaluation period, according to estimates from the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.
The state health department has stated that monthly renewals for traditional Medicaid and the expanded program under the Affordable Care Act, known as the Healthy Michigan Plan, will occur from June 2023 to May 2024. Beneficiaries will receive renewal notices three months in advance of their renewal dates. The department has encouraged families to submit renewal paperwork even if they suspect they may no longer be eligible for Medicaid, as some members of a household can still obtain healthcare coverage even if others are not eligible.
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