All Medicaid and CHIP recipients need to complete an annual renewal to determine if they are eligible for coverage. Lehigh Valley Health Network has compiled answers to frequently asked questions below. Para español, haga clic aquí. .للغة العربية ، انقر هنا
The information on this webpage was taken directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)’s website. To access additional resources, click here.
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is dedicated to helping our community understand changes to laws that can impact their health insurance coverage.
If you or a loved one gets Medical Assistance (MA), also known as Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage through the state of Pennsylvania, it’s important to know that continuous coverage for these programs ended on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
This means that all MA and CHIP recipients must complete an annual renewal to see if they are still eligible for coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
To help you understand the reason for this change and the steps you should take, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions from the DHS website.
In March 2020, the federal government allowed states to keep Medicaid and CHIP coverage open regardless of eligibility as part of COVID-19 pandemic relief. Pennsylvania continued to send annual renewal packets during this time, but most people did not lose coverage for changes in income or for not completing their renewal.
A federal law passed in December 2022 ended continuous coverage on April 1, 2023. Going forward, DHS must end MA and/or CHIP coverage if a person does not complete their renewal or if they have income or other changes that make them ineligible for MA or CHIP at the time of their renewal.
Renewals will take place over the next 12 months, and no one will be disenrolled without having a chance to complete a renewal.
You will get a renewal packet in the mail when it is time to renew your MA. You will start to receive information in the mail about your renewal 90 days before it is due.
It is very important that you complete and return the renewal forms. Please complete your renewal if you know your case has changed OR if nothing has changed. By completing your renewal, DHS can keep your MA or CHIP coverage open or connect you to other affordable health coverage options if you no longer qualify. There are four ways you can complete and submit your renewal:
- By mail: Complete and return the forms by mailing them back in the provided envelope.
- Online: Complete your renewal online in COMPASS.
- Telephone: Call 1-866-550-4355 to talk to a customer service representative.
- In person: Complete and submit your renewal in person at any local county assistance office.
Completing your renewal will help DHS determine if you are still eligible for MA. If you are still eligible, your MA coverage will continue.
Everyone's renewal date is different. You will start to get information about your renewal about 90 days before your renewal is due. You can opt in to receive text messages from DHS. They will text you when your renewal packet is mailed, and you will also receive other important alerts and reminders about your benefits.
If you receive a renewal packet, you must complete it by the due date listed on the packet or your MA or CHIP coverage could stop. If you are no longer eligible or you do not return your packet, you will receive a notice in the mail telling you when your coverage is scheduled to end.
Not all renewals were sent on April 1, 2023. The process of doing everyone's renewals will take 12 months, so be on the lookout for your packet when it is your turn to renew your coverage. If you sign up for alerts, DHS can send you a text message when your renewal is mailed.
If you do not return your renewal, DHS will have to end your coverage. If that happens, you can reapply for MA and/or CHIP at any time. You may also get information about coverage available through Pennie®, Pennsylvania's official health and dental coverage marketplace, if it is an option for you.
There are a few ways for you to complete your renewal:
- You can complete the forms DHS sends you and mail them back in the envelope included in the packet.
- You can drop your completed forms off at your local County Assistance Office.
- You can complete your renewal on the COMPASS website.
- You can complete your renewal by phone by calling 1-866-550-4355.
If your renewal shows that you are no longer eligible for MA, there are options for you to stay covered. If you are not eligible for MA and are age 19 or older, DHS will send the information you gave them to Pennie. Pennie can help you review your coverage options and learn about financial assistance that may be available to help you pay for your coverage. DHS will send you a letter telling you that they have sent your information to Pennie.
Children who are under 19 and not eligible for MA will be directly connected to CHIP and parents will learn more about coverage.
If you believe DHS made a mistake when they conducted your renewal and found you ineligible for MA, you can appeal that decision. Directions for how to appeal are on the notice you get from DHS. You can also provide DHS with information that you did not give them in your renewal, and they can check to see if that changes your eligibility.