Arizona is returning to regular Medicaid renewals in 2023
Arizona is returning to regular Medicaid renewals in 2023. Beginning in April 2023, Arizona again began verifying the eligibility status of Medicaid and KidsCare members. Since the federal pause on Medicaid disenrollments has ended, Arizona’s Medicaid agency (AHCCCS), along with all other state Medicaid agencies, is required under federal law to return to a regular renewal process. Learn how the return to normal may impact you and your family. We can help you understand how to stay covered.
What should I do if I’m no longer eligible for continued Medicaid coverage?
Regular Medicaid renewals began April 1, 2023. However, redetermining eligibility will take place over the course of about a year. AHCCCS and KidsCare members will be notified prior to their month of renewal. Members who need to provide additional information will have 30 days to do so. But you can request more time to provide information by calling 1-855-432-7587.
According to the AHCCCS, most eligibility determinations are completed automatically. Some members who are still eligible will receive continued benefits without needing to take action or provide more information. Those members will receive a medical assistance renewal summary letter stating, “If the information on this summary is correct, you do not need to do anything.”
How to complete your renewal and keep your Arizona Medicaid coverage
- Update your contact information – Make sure your contact information is up to date with Arizona’s human services department, the Department of Economic Security (DES). You can do this by logging in to your HEAplus account at www.healthearizonaplus.gov, or by calling 1-855-432-7587.
- Check your mailbox – If you are covered by Arizona Medicaid or KidsCare, you may receive a request for information. This will help the state determine if you are still eligible for your AHCCCS coverage. You may need to renew your eligibility to keep your benefits.
- Respond to any requests – Respond right away to any requests for information or verifications from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). You may also want to keep any communications you receive from the AHCCCS for future reference.
- Appeal, if necessary – If Arizona’s decision about benefits and services is to stop medical assistance, you have the right to appeal. The letter you receive about the state’s decision to end your coverage will explain how to request an appeal. It will also include the deadline for you to submit your appeal request. You can also reapply for Medicaid at any time.
(NOTE: The unwinding of continuous Medicaid coverage does not impact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), although the additional pandemic-related SNAP benefits ended in February. And the scheduled end of the federal public health emergency on May 11, 2023, will affect SNAP eligibility for some people. Watch for letters and notices from your state to stay up-to-date on what you need to know about SNAP.)
No longer eligible to renew Medicaid in Arizona? You have options for health insurance in AZ.
Get coverage through your job
You may want to get coverage through an employer if you lose AHCCCS medical assistance. This could be coverage through your own employer or that of a parent or spouse. But don’t wait. The special enrollment window for employer-sponsored coverage lasts just 60 days for people who have lost Medicaid coverage.
Arizona health insurance Marketplace
In Arizona, AHCCCS may refer you to the federal Health Insurance Marketplace if you no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage. Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans through the Marketplace cover essential benefits, and there is a special enrollment period when you lose Medicaid. You may be eligible for an advance premium tax credit or cost sharing reduction to lower your cost for a marketplace plan.
Get financial help, if needed
If employer coverage is available to you, but it isn’t affordable, see if you qualify for financial help to purchase a Marketplace plan instead. Our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator can show you the potential savings you may be eligible for in the Marketplace.
See if you qualify for Medicare
If you are 65 or older, you may be eligible for the federal Medicare program, which provides health insurance. Medicare is also available to some younger people who have permanent disabilities, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). There is a special enrollment period for people who delayed Medicare enrollment in recent years because they were covered by Medicaid.
Frequently Asked Questions about Arizona Medicaid redeterminations and renewals
When could I lose my Arizona Medicaid coverage?
In Arizona, you could lose Medicaid coverage as early as April of 2023. That is when Arizona’s Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), began disenrollments. Arizona will be trying to complete renewals by the end of 2023 for people it suspects are no longer eligible. It’s also likely the agency will look at your file earlier if it hasn’t checked your eligibility since December 2022. Arizona will be completing renewals over about 12 months, though, and your coverage remains in place until your renewal has been completed. It’s possible your renewal could take place toward the end of that 12-month window.
What do I need to do now for my Medicaid renewal?
It’s important to respond to your renewal requests by the due date given in your notification letter. If you don’t, you may lose your AHCCCS health insurance even if you still qualify for coverage.
- You may receive a letter with a request for information.
- The AHCCCS may tell you it needs to verify information, such as earnings from a job or retirement benefits.
- You may be asked to fill out a “Verification of Employment History” form or a “Request for Verification of Unearned Income” form.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
