Back in January 2020, when the COVID pandemic started, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE). As a part of this PHE, anyone on Medicaid was allowed to stay on Medicaid without any income requirements until the end of the month in which the PHE ended. During this time, Medicaid recipients did not have to go through the annual renewal process.
Since the COVID Public Health Emergency is ending in May 2023, those Medicaid renewals and income redeterminations are starting up again. For PA residents, these redeterminations will start on April 1st, 2023. Current Medicaid enrollees need to be on the lookout for renewal forms and should complete those and return them ASAP. Current enrollees should also make sure that their contact information is up-to-date with the Department of Health Services by calling 877-395-8930 or going to dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS.
Should DHS determine that a current enrollee is no longer Medicaid-eligible based on their current income, they can go to the PA Insurance Marketplace, www.pennie.com, to enroll in individual/family coverage. There will be a 120-day Special Enrollment Period, starting on the date that Medicaid ends, for these individuals to enroll through Pennie.
Please contact Kennon Insurance if you need assistance navigating your options on the Pennie website. Our services are free of charge to you and we are an independent agency, licensed with all of the insurance companies selling plans through Pennie. Call Liz Kennon at 412-586-5966 or email at lkennon@kennoninsurance.com for more information.