Maryland Medicaid Redeterminations

July 15, 2015

Guest Blog by Matthew Celetano and Stephanie Klapper, Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, Member of Maryland Nonprofits

Health care reform is here to stay but we certainly know that doesn’t mean our work is over. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) hundreds of thousands of Marylanders that never had access to health coverage can now get quality, affordable care. Today there are over 1 million Marylanders on the Medicaid program, the life-saving health coverage program for working low-income Marylanders. This is an extremely significant portion of our friends, families and neighbors.

One challenge we face right now is that in the next few months hundreds of thousands of Marylanders must start getting comfortable with a new technology system.

We ALL need to pitch in to make sure our friends and neighbors who are on the Medicaid program follow some easy steps so they don’t fall through the cracks!

As many of you know, Marylanders receiving health coverage through Medicaid must renew their health coverage each year. Eligible Marylanders can begin using Medicaid at any time during the year. However, the renewal process (“redetermination”) must be completed every 12 months to ensure continuous coverage. This year’s redeterminations will be different and will use a new online system.

Because of health reform and other efforts, there are now a variety of ways for folks to update their coverage. People on Medicaid can go to the Maryland Health Connection website, contact the call center (855-642-8752), or get in-person assistance to help them through this process. There are further resources online including frequently asked questions, local Navigators, phone numbers, etc.

Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders would not have access to Medicaid and other types of health coverage without the ACA. With greater focus on prevention, cost containment, value and more, the ACA represents a massive shift on how we as a country and state approach health care. Our fellow citizens with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied care, parents can keep their children on their policies until 26, single adults can access a greatly expanded Medicaid program, and there are widely available tax credits for Marylanders to help them afford quality care – in 2015 alone 92% of people that bought in the marketplace were eligible.

We have a unique opportunity as Maryland nonprofits given our connections to our fellow citizens on the ground level on a daily basis. We can ease this Medicaid redetermination process by letting our fellow members, colleagues, clients and friends know about the various doors one can go through to continue care. A smooth transition to the new online portal will ensure easier future redeterminations, and assist with making the very real goal of quality affordable health care for all a reality!