3.8 million workers who are expected to lose Medicaid coverage are eligible for health insurance through their employers: “…it is in the interest of employers to ensure that their employees have access to health coverage,” the U.S. secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury wrote in a July 20 letter.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has created a special enrollment period for healthcare.gov that allows Medicaid disenrollees to sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage through July 31, 2024. Employers are asked to:
- Extend their enrollment periods accordingly.
- Encourage workers on Medicaid to update their contact information.
- Devote staff to assist workers in transitioning coverage.
- Remind employees that they could be eligible for subsidized coverage on the exchange.
In a July 20 letter to “Employers, Plan Sponsors, and Issuers,” the U.S. secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury asked employers to support workers and their families in retaining health insurance by extending special enrollment periods for group health plans beyond the 60-day minimum.
The health insurance program for lower-income workers, Medicaid grew during COVID as Congress prevented states, which primarily administer Medicaid, from disenrolling workers in exchange for additional funding. Medicaid coverage surged to a historic high of more than 86 million people by March 2023, a 35% increase over February 2020.
As Congress’s COVID protections recede, workers who are no longer eligible need to transition to other coverage, stat.
Per a recent HHS report, 3.8 million-ish workers losing Medicaid are eligible for employer coverage. 3 million+ workers have lost Medicaid since April says KFF.
“Given the exceptional circumstances surrounding the resumption of Medicaid and CHIP renewals for the first time in three years, many individuals will need more than the typical 60-day window after loss of Medicaid or CHIP coverage to apply for and enroll in other coverage,” the secretaries wrote: “Also, it is in the interest of employers to ensure that their employees have access to health coverage.”
Special Enrollment Period for Medicaid Disenrollees
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has created a special enrollment period for healthcare.gov that allows Medicaid disenrollees to sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage through July 31, 2024. The agencies encourage employers to do the same and reiterate there are no legal or regulatory barriers to doing so.
Engage Workers About Medicaid, Health Insurance
Talk to TrustPlus today about how TrustPlus Personal Financial Coaches help workers navigate health benefits, strengthening your organization and the physical, mental, and financial health of your workers.
