In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the creation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This act provided Florida and other states with funding to ensure that people could continue to receive medical care through Medicaid health insurance until the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). However, as a result, many people who were using Medicaid insurance were no longer technically eligible for it. This changed in December of 2022 with the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), which ended continuous Medicaid coverage on March 31, 2023, rather than at the end of the PHE.
In response, Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) will begin reviewing the eligibility of every person who uses Medicaid insurance starting April 1, 2023. The process, known as Medicaid Unwinding, will determine whether individuals are still eligible for Medicaid coverage. The review process is expected to be completed by April of 2024.
Here's what you need to do:
First, make sure your contact information is up-to-date on the DCF website. Once updated, wait for an envelope with a yellow stripe to arrive in the mail. Each Medicaid recipient will receive their own envelope, not one for the entire family. The first batch of envelopes will be sent out in April 2023, but some may receive their envelope a few months later.
Do not attempt to re-enroll in Medicaid coverage if you haven't received an envelope yet, as this could cause issues with processing your Medicaid review.
It's important to note that the DCF will terminate anyone who does not complete the Medicaid renewal process by April 30, 2023. Additionally, the first group of people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage will also be terminated on April 30, 2023.
While the process of reviewing Medicaid insurance eligibility typically happens each year, this year's review will take longer due to the pandemic-related extensions. The DCF will determine Medicaid eligibility, but the Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA) administers the Medicaid program.
How The Health Experts Insurance can help:
If you have questions or concerns about Medicaid Unwinding, our health insurance experts can guide you and provide free health insurance quotes. Our goal is to help educate you and provide you with the information needed to make an informed decision. At the end of the day, healthcare should be affordable, attainable, and easy to understand. Let us help you navigate this complex process.