Don’t Lose Your Benefits

Your child may still be eligible,

even if you don’t qualify for benefits!

Children who are under the age of 19 may still be eligible for AHCCCS coverage, even if their parents do not meet the requirements.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid programs employed “continuous enrollment” at federal direction. As a condition of receiving enhanced federal funding, AHCCCS could not take any negative actions during a member’s annual renewal of eligibility. No one who was enrolled in Medicaid during this time lost their Medicaid coverage (unless they moved out of state, voluntarily disenrolled, aged out of KidsCare, or passed away). Medicaid enrollment has increased by 33% in Arizona since the start of the pandemic.

Because of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) that was enacted in December 2022, AHCCCS is required to begin the regular renewal process for all Medicaid and KidsCare members. This means that starting April 1, 2023, AHCCCS will begin disenrolling members who are determined to be no longer eligible. Even if you don’t qualify for benefits, your child is still eligible in most cases. “In Arizona, children who are under the age of 19 may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), even if their parents do not meet the income requirements. The AHCCCS and KidsCare programs provide coverage based on income, and children aged 18 or younger may qualify if the total combined income of everyone in their household is at or below 205% of the Federal Poverty Level.”

You may qualify for AHCCCS if you are 18 and under if:

You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Your family has low income, regardless of whether you have a disability, or
Your family has low income and qualifies for AHCCCS KidsCare.

Learn more: https://az.db101.org/az/situations/youthanddisability/benefitsforyoungpeople/program2d.htm

If you don’t receive SSI you still may qualify:

You live in Arizona

You are a U.S. citizen or meet specific noncitizen requirements

You have a Social Security Number or apply for one

You and your family have low income

- All of your income will be counted

- Part of your parents’ income will be counted

Learn more: https://az.db101.org/az/situations/youthanddisability/benefitsforyoungpeople/program2d.htm

We’re working with community partners, advocates, and members to make sure eligible members remain covered, and that those who are no longer eligible are referred to sources for other healthcare coverage options.

To ensure that members do not experience any gap in health care coverage, AHCCCS asks all members to:

1. Make sure their mailing address, phone number, and email address on file is correct in www.healthearizonaplus.gov. Login or call Health-e-Arizona Plus at 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587), Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Review the Updating Your Contact Information flier English / Spanish to learn how to update your contact information in Health-e-Arizona PLUS. ALTCS members need to call 1-888-621-6880 to update their address or to get help completing their renewal.
2. Check their mailbox for a letter from AHCCCS about the renewal of coverage.
3. Respond to any requests from AHCCCS for more information so the agency can accurately determine eligibility.

For more help, members may contact their health plan or a community assistor organization that can help individuals navigate the Medicaid or KidsCare renewal process. Health plan member services departments can assist as well. AHCCCS members can find the number for their health plan’s members services department on their member ID card or on the AHCCCS Available Health Plans web page.

Approximately 75% of eligibility determinations are able to be completed automatically and members will not need to take any action. If their eligibility is continued, then they will remain enrolled and will receive a summary letter that says, “If the information on the summary is correct, you do not need to do anything. You do not need to call or contact AHCCCS.”

Individuals who no longer qualify for AHCCCS or KidsCare may have other healthcare coverage options through the HealthCare Marketplace. See HealthCare.gov or call 2-1-1 for help.

Learn more at http://www.azahcccs.gov/Renewals

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE). During the PHE, Medicaid agencies have not disenrolled most members, even if someone’s eligibility changed.
As of Dec. 29, 2022, the PHE is no longer tied to the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement

Starting April 1, 2023, AHCCCS will begin disenrolling members who no longer meet Medicaid or KidsCare eligibility requirements. This process will take 12 months. Here’s what will happen:

When a member’s renewal is due, AHCCCS will attempt to determine eligibility automatically. Approximately 75% of eligibility determinations are able to be completed automatically and members will not need to take any action. If their eligibility is continued, they will receive a summary letter that says, “If the information on the summary is correct, you do not need to do anything. You do not need to call or contact AHCCCS.”

Members whose eligibility cannot be automatically determined will receive a written request from AHCCCS that more information is needed. They must respond within 30 days..
AHCCCS cannot disenroll a member whose mail is returned undeliverable until making other good-faith attempts to contact the member.

Members who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will be referred to the Healthcare Marketplace and other sources for coverage options (see www.healthcare.gov).

Members can do four things:

Make sure your mailing address, phone number, and email address is correct. Login to www.healthearizonaplus.gov, or call Health-e-Arizona Plus at 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587), Monday through Friday 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.
Check your mailbox for a letter from AHCCCS about renewal of coverage. Your letter will either inform you of your eligibility status and tell you no response is needed, or ask for additional information. The envelope will look like this:
Respond to any requests from AHCCCS for more information so the agency can accurately determine your eligibility.
Sign up for texts or emails from AHCCCS about your renewal. Login to (or create) your Health-e-Arizona Plus account. Go to “Message Center” on the toolbar. Click on “Manage My Alerts and Letters.” Choose the preferred letter and alert options. You may choose email, text, or both.

No, AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) will update all information for members in foster care.

Renewal dates are often based on the month when you first enrolled. However, an individual’s renewal date may change as we align renewal dates for household members or with Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) renewal dates. Login to www.healthearizonaplus.gov to check your renewal status.

When possible, AHCCCS is aligning households by the Medical Assistance (MA) date for Medicaid and KidsCare annual renewal. For families who receive Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits, the SNAP and MA renewal dates will be aligned.

In most cases, yes, unless you have moved and your current health plan is not available in your new location. Also, if you are disenrolled and then you re-enroll within 90 days, you will be assigned to your previous health plan.

If AHCCCS determines that you no longer qualify for Medicaid, you will receive:

- Notice of when your enrollment will end,
- Information on how to appeal that decision if you believe the disenrollment was in error, and
- Information about other healthcare coverage options available from Healthcare.gov.

Find health insurance options at www.healthcare.gov.
Visit 2-1-1 or www.211.org for help.
Veterans can find more healthcare resources at www.beconnectedaz.org.

Yes, AIHP and Fee-for-Service members, including Federal Emergency Services enrollees, are included in the renewal process.

AHCCCS is working with its partners across the state to reach members in rural areas, those without internet access, and those experiencing homelessness. AHCCCS has conducted several outreach campaigns that included letters by mail, phone calls, and text messages.

- or des.az.gov/services/older-adults/medicare-assistance.
- ALTCS members need to call the ALTCS Customer Service number, 888-621-6880, to change their contact information or to get help with their renewal.

AHCCCS will never ask you to pay money to renew your AHCCCS or KidsCare coverage. We are aware of text and email scams being sent to Medicaid members, asking them to pay money to renew their coverage. This is fraudulent activity. AHCCCS does contact members by text and email, but we do NOT ask for money. Please be careful when responding to texts and emails, and make sure the message is from AHCCCS. Check your renewal status by logging into www.healthearizonaplus.gov.

If you receive an email or text asking you to pay money to renew your health care coverage, please report this fraudulent activity to AHCCCS at 602-417-4193 or online at the Report Fraud web page.