DON’T RISK A GAP IN COVERAGE!

The most important step Medicaid enrollees can take right now is to update their contact information by contacting DHHS by phone at (855) 632-7633 or online at ACCESSNebraska.org.

In March 2020, Congress passed a law responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that generally required states to keep most people enrolled in Medicaid coverage regardless of changes, such as a change in income. Over 390,000 Nebraskans have been relying on Medicaid coverage for their health needs during the pandemic, and upcoming changes could cause tens of thousands of Nebraskans to lose Medicaid coverage. For the past three years, most people were able to keep their Medicaid coverage even when their situation changed due to COVID-19 protections. These protections are ending, which means that people with Medicaid could lose their coverage as DHHS conducts renewals.

FAST FACTS

TIMELINE

• In March 2023, DHHS will start processing renewals for Nebraska Medicaid enrollees, with the first round of terminations beginning as early as April 2023. 

ESTIMATED IMPACT

• The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) estimates that there are between 40,000-80,000 Nebraskans who will no longer qualify for Medicaid and will lose coverage.
• DHHS has identified 145,000 Nebraskans since March 2020 that are at risk of losing their coverage, which highlights that many more Nebraskans are at risk of losing their coverage, even if they are still eligible for Medicaid.

QUESTIONS? Reach out to Nebraska Appleseed’s Community Assistance Line. 

RESOURCES

• Nebraska Appleseed Community Fact Sheet, which includes a FAQ and tools to find local help
• Nebraska Appleseed’s Preparing for Renewals Blog, which includes a description of folks who may need to pay extra attention to their Medicaid coverage during this time.
• Nebraska Medicaid’s Renewal Website, which includes a social media toolkit