State suggeestions options for those not meeting income limits
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) resumed the standard eligibility renewal process for Medicaid and CHIP recipients this month as required by federal law. That could lead to as many as 50,000 Delawareans losing coverage, including many holding jobs.
During the federal Public Health Emergency designation, annual renewals were not required from March 2020 to March 2023. Legislation, signed into law on December 29, 2022, set a specific date to resume renewals, regardless of when the Public Health Emergency ends.
As of January, 315,000 Delawareans were enrolled in Medicaid. With annual renewals underway, DHSS estimates 40,000 to 50,000 Delaware residents who were receiving continuous coverage due to the Health Emergency may no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, also known as the Delaware Healthy Children Program, and may be taken off the rolls. .
Between April 2023 and April 2024, DHSS reviews every member’s eligibility and, where approved by state or federal rules, uses available data sources to renew members automatically.
If DHSS cannot auto-renew a person’s coverage using available and approved data sources, the member will receive a pre-populated renewal letter by mail. Delaware Medicaid and its Managed Care Organization partners are also using texts, email, and social media when available to enhance outreach.
A member can complete their renewal through a variety of ways: online through Delaware ASSIST, by phone, by mail, by fax, or at any Division of Social Services (DSS) office locations. Individuals who need assistance filling out their renewal can call the Division of Social Services Customer Service Unit at 1-866-843-7212.
“Over the past three years, the state’s public assistance programs have been a crucial safety net for so many Delawareans,” said Molly Magarik, secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). “As we are undertaking the monumental task of restarting eligibility renewals again, our goal is to ensure Medicaid members who continue to be eligible stay enrolled and that those who are determined to no longer be eligible get connected to affordable coverage.”
Changes and notification preferences can also be made at ASSIST Self Service https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/. Individuals can find out more information about the renewal process atde.gov/medicaidrenewals.
Healthcare providers and others who provide services to members can help by reminding their Medicaid members to look for and complete their Medicaid renewals this year and encouraging them to start exploring other coverage options if they believe they will no longer qualify for their current coverage.
The federal government has authorized a Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Individuals who lose their coverage through Medicaid and CHIP any time between March 31, 2023, and July 31, 2024, will be eligible for a marketplace special enrollment period. After a person is determined to be eligible for the marketplace, they will have 60 days to choose a plan, and their coverage will start the first day of the month after the plan is selected.
Many enrollees can find plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace that cost less than $10 a month. Plans cover services like prescription drugs, doctor visits, urgent care, and hospital visits.
Trinidad Navarro, commissioner of the Delaware Department of Insurance, suggests that a good first step would be to visit ChooseHealthDE.com to locate a local, federally registered/approved Navigator for assistance in enrolling in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace.
In Delaware, assistance enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace is available from certified Health Insurance Marketplace Navigator teams at Westside Family Healthcare and Quality Insights. To be connected to a navigator, call:
- Westside Family Healthcare: New Castle County: 302-472-8655, Kent or Sussex counties: 302-678-2205
- Quality Insights: 1-844-238-1189
Some individuals who are found to be ineligible for Medicaid may be eligible for or already enrolled in Medicare. If that’s the case, the Department’s Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) (302-674-7364) is ready to help with locating supplemental Medicare and prescription coverage.
