On April 1, 2023, a federal law ended the continuous coverage requirement for Medicaid/Medical Assistance (MA) recipients that was put in place during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. As a result, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has begun Medicaid Redetermination. Those who are no longer eligible for Medical Assistance or fail to complete their renewal will be disenrolled.
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) is asking all in-network providers to help keep their impacted patients informed about this change and encourage them to act now to maintain their health care coverage. Everyone with Medical Assistance coverage must submit a renewal application to see if they remain eligible.
Here are the steps your patients can take now to ensure that they stay covered:
- Update their information: Medical Assistance recipients must make sure PA DHS has their correct contact information, so they don't miss any important communications about their renewal. They can update their information using any of the following methods:
- Online: www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS
- Mobile App: myCOMPASS PA
- Phone: 1-877-395-8930 or (if you live in Philadelphia) 215-560-7226
- In Person: Go to your County Assistance Office
- Sign up for DHS alerts: Medical Assistance recipients should sign up to receive texts and emails from PA DHS.
- Complete their renewal application and return to DHS by the due date: Renewal dates are unique for each Medical Assistance recipient. All Medical Assistance recipients must complete the renewal process in the next 12 months.
- Online: www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS
- Mail: Send to your County Assistance Office
- Phone: 1-866-550-4355
- In Person: Go to your County Assistance Office
By completing their renewal by the due date, those who remain eligible for Medical Assistance can maintain their coverage. Those no longer eligible for Medical Assistance may be referred to Pennie® or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to explore other coverage options. If a Medical Assistance recipient does not submit their renewal, their state health care coverage will end.
Individuals who are losing their Medical Assistance coverage are invited to explore the Keystone health plans that are available through Independence. Even if they can't keep their Keystone First plan, Independence can help them find a plan that meets their needs and budget. Patients can see if they qualify here.
For more information on Medical Assistance renewals, patients can visit www.dhs.pa.gov/phe.
Thank you for joining us in this effort to ensure that your patients stay covered.