Mayor Craig Greenberg, joined by public health advocates, gathered today at the Family Health Centers – East Broadway clinic to discuss the risk to 45,000 Jefferson County residents who could lose their Medicaid health insurance. The Kentucky Department of Medicaid Services (DMS) began unwinding COVID-19-related policies and resumed eligibility certification for Medicaid enrollees beginning in April 2023. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Kentucky utilized Medicaid’s emergency authority to expand eligibility for Medicaid enrollment and suspend the renewal process. This allowed more than 240,000 Kentuckians to gain health insurance coverage.
In Jefferson County, 45,000 people will need to renew their Medicaid insurance actively, meaning they will be responsible for completing paperwork and turning in information that shows they are eligible for Medicaid.
“We cannot afford to have 45,000 people lose coverage because they don’t know what’s going on or they don’t know the next steps. We already know that people are losing coverage across the country, not because they are no longer eligible for the program, but because they weren’t ready to take action when needed,” said Mayor Greenberg. “We are here today to say we are here for you, and we’re ready to help make sure you keep the coverage you need.”
Last month, 74,000 people across Kentucky were contacted to renew their Medicaid insurance. Of those, 9,400 lost their insurance due to ineligibility, while more than 24,000 lost their insurance from needing to submit their paperwork.
“If we’ve learned anything from the last four years, it’s that hardworking families and Kentucky children can both access the care they need to improve their health and to contribute to their community in meaningful ways by maintaining healthcare insurance coverage,” said Priscilla Easterling, Outreach Coordinator at Kentucky Voices for Health. “It’s important to note that thousands of kids will remain Medicaid eligible even if their parents or guardians have become ineligible. Those who receive a notice and miss their renewal date should submit their information immediately. If a person loses coverage, they can request a reconsideration, file an appeal, or enroll in a qualified health plan through a special enrollment period.”
Dr. Bart Irwin, CEO of Family Health Centers, said, “Family Health Centers and similar organizations have trained staff who have been helping people enroll in health insurance coverage since 2013. We are here to help you at no cost.”
Those with Medicaid should follow three easy steps to help keep their insurance:
(1): Update their mailing address with DMS by calling 1-800-635-2570 or visit the kynect website (kynect.ky.gov).
(2): When you receive your Medicaid renewal notification, take action. The Medicaid renewal process in Kentucky will last through April 2024. Recipients or families are notified the month before their renewal with 30 days to complete the renewal process and 90 for retroactive coverage.
(3): Get free help with your renewal paperwork. Local application assistants can be found at Get-Covered-Lou.
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Family Health Centers, Inc. (FHC) is a not-for-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center that provides access to high-quality primary and preventive health care services regardless of the ability to pay. Established in 1976, the Family Health Centers provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to more than 40,000 individuals annually through a network of seven health center locations throughout Louisville Metro. Learn more at www.fhclouisville.org.
Kentucky Voices for Health (KVH) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of consumer advocates and a catalyst in health policy decision-making since 2007, bringing together individuals, advocates, community organizations, state agencies and policymakers in an effort to address the underlying causes of poor health by connecting Kentuckians with opportunities to make change through policy advocacy. KVH believes that every Kentuckian – Black, brown or white; urban or rural; young or old has the right to live a healthy life. Learn more at https://kyvoicesforhealth.org/.