It’s expected that 300,000 people will lose their MassHealth (Medicaid in Massachusetts) coverage this year. Why? In March 2020, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That resulted in MassHealth putting protections in place so members’ MassHealth coverage wouldn’t end during the COVID-19 emergency.
That emergency declaration expires on May 11, 2023, and millions of Massachusetts residents will soon need to re-enroll in MassHealth. In this Boston.com article, they estimate that about 300,000 people will be dropped from the state-sponsored health insurance.
MassHealth Renewal Effort
More than 2.3 million people currently receive their health insurance through MassHealth. If MassHealth decides it has enough information for certain MassHealth members, those members will each get a letter in the mail that says that their eligibility has been renewed and no action is needed. If you’re one of the unlucky ones and MassHealth has trouble determining your eligibility, you’ll receive a blue envelope containing a renewal form in the mail from MassHealth.
MassHealth Renewal Application
The Medicaid renewal application is long and complicated, just like the original application. You’ll need to gather many documents to include with the application. Even if you’re eligible, if you don’t send your completed renewal application in by the deadline in your blue letter, you may lose your MassHealth coverage. If you don’t complete the application properly, you could lose coverage. You’ll still be able to apply after losing coverage, but you may have a gap in your health insurance.
If You’re Age 65 or Over and Have MassHealth for Long-Term Care, We Can Help You
If you’re age 65 and over and have MassHealth for long-term care, we can help you with the renewal application. Now you might be trying to decide if it would be worth the money to have a MassHealth lawyer do your application, but keep in mind that if you’re disqualified from the MassHealth program, in the Boston area nursing home costs average around $14,000 per month. Home care averages $27 per hour.
We have extensive experience dealing with MassHealth. We know the ins and outs of the rules and have created applications for numerous clients over the years who have obtained the MassHealth coverage they needed. The MassHealth system can be a difficult one to navigate. We’ll use our knowledge and provide you with the guidance necessary to make sure your application is completed correctly, and the necessary documentation is collected and submitted. We’ll also be responsible for responding to any follow-up requests made by MassHealth.
If you or a loved one is 65 years of age or older and on MassHealth for long-term care (either in a nursing home or receiving care at home) and you need to renew your MassHealth coverage, reach out to us. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation so you can decide if you would like us to shoulder the burden of the renewal application for you.
