The Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic that was declared as of March 12, 2020, is officially coming to an end on May 11, 2023. What does this mean for people who are enrolled in Medicaid? Those who have been on Medicaid for the length of the pandemic without any interaction with their board of social services will now need to prove their eligibility once again to keep benefits.
Many Seniors and disabled individuals who have Medicare for their primary insurance are also financially eligible for Medicaid, which pays for health care services not covered by Medicare. Examples are home health care, dental, vision, non-emergency ambulance transportation, Medicare part B premiums, prescriptions, co-payments, and deductibles. During the PHE, New Jersey, like most states, received a 6.2 % increase in its federal Medicaid funding on the condition that it would not terminate anyone from Medicaid due to a change that occurred in their financial condition during the PHE. Annual redeterminations were halted.
During the PHE, some people may have acquired assets, acquired new or increased income, obtained another source of health insurance, had a change in their medical status or moved to a new address. All these factors are relevant to the redetermination of Medicaid eligibility. Some individuals may be enrolled now due to the PHE but no longer need Medicaid going forward and may have questions about Medicaid Estate Recovery if they are over 55.
Starting April 1st, 2023, the State of New Jersey will be sending out Medicaid Redetermination Notices to hundreds of thousands of NJ Medicaid enrollees, based on the anniversary date of the person’s original Medicaid enrollment. These forms, once received, must be completed and returned to the County Board of Social Services within a short period of time. For more information on the state’s process for this, go here. If you don’t receive a form, contact the County Board of Social Services.
If you or someone you assist acquired assets during the PHE, such as an inheritance, or if income has now jumped over the threshold that’s referred to as the Medicaid “income cap,” consult with an elder law attorney at the earliest opportunity to find out what you need to do to protect Medicaid eligibility.
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