A total of 153,837 Idaho residents are in Medicaid Protection, which means they couldn’t be removed from Medicaid during the pandemic unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed based on federal law. Since Congress removed that protection, DHW has been working to determine which participants are still eligible.
DHW started sending notices in February for the first group and in March for the second group, for a total of 54,418 people (35% of the total people in protection) and are preparing to send out the third group in the first week of April.
So far, the program has processed more than 32,898 individuals in Medicaid Protection since the beginning of February. This count, current as of March 27, includes those in groups one and two, as well as people who have contacted the department to complete their renewal because they had a change in circumstances or who had another benefit (such as food stamps) that prompted the program to also complete their Medicaid renewal.
Of the total 32,898 people processed, 13,647 have been found to still be eligible (5,240 of those are in Medicaid Expansion) and 19,251 have been found to no longer be eligible (8,585 of those are in Medicaid expansion). Those who are no longer eligible will lose coverage starting April 1. Those determined to have too much income to qualify for Medicaid are being referred to the state-based health insurance marketplace, Your Health Idaho, where they can discuss their options and potentially buy health insurance.
The department will continue to send renewals each month through July for those in Medicaid Protection.
Starting April 10, the department will track the number of renewal notices sent, the number of people who remain eligible, and the number who are no longer eligible on our website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/medicaidprotection. The numbers will be updated weekly.
I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.
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