Medicaid Rules Are Changing

Since March 2020, the federal government has prevented states from terminating Medicaid coverage due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. That will change beginning April 1, 2023.

On April 1, 2023, the state of Texas will begin the process of rechecking Medicaid eligibility for about 2.7 million Texas women and children who currently receive Medicaid coverage. The state will renew coverage for those who are still eligible for Medicaid. Texans who are no longer eligible will either be enrolled in other health coverage options, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or receive information to sign up for other options, such as Healthcare.gov Marketplace insurance.

The state of Texas will begin rechecking eligibility by starting with those most likely to have a change in their eligibility:

Pregnant women who have had their baby
Kids who have turned 19
Kids whose family income has changed

If you are enrolled in Medicaid programs for the elderly or for Texans with disabilities, such as STAR Kids and STAR Plus, you are most likely not affected.

This may be a confusing time and things are changing fast. Some Texans may lose Medicaid coverage because they no longer qualify. This resource hub has information you may need and links to helpful resources.

End of Medicaid continuous coverage protection:

March 31, 2023

Medicaid Members

The most important thing to do is make sure the state has updated information about you and your family, such as your address, contact information, and household income. This is especially important if you’ve moved, changed jobs, or had a baby. One way to do this is through YourTexasBenefits.com or the YTB app. Even if you lose Medicaid, there may be other state programs you qualify for or you can sign up for coverage on the HealthCare.gov Marketplace.

Partners

Partners can help make sure Medicaid members update their information so they receive notices from the state and the state can accurately decide if they still qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, there are a number of resources available for explaining other health coverage options as well as more information about the state’s plan for restarting renewals.