MARCH 23, 2023
MASSHEALTH RENEWALS
>> THANK YOU. HI EVERYBODY. GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING US. MY NAME IS MADI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PARENT, CHILD, AND FAMILY POLICY TEAM HERE AT MASSHEALTH. BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE PRESENTATION, A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. I'M JOINED BY COLLEAGUES, WHO WILL HELP TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR ZOOM FUNCTIONALITY ISSUES IN THE CHAT. AND WE CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT, OTHERS WE'LL TRY OUR BEST TO ANSWER LIVE AND HAVE A Q&A SECTION AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. AND SOME QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE BACK AND GET BACK TO YOU. WE'LL TRY OUR BEST. WE ARE RECORDING THIS. AND WE'LL POST IT ON THE WEBSITE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT TAKING NOTES, WE'LL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN THIS RECORDING POSTED ONLINE. OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET STARTED. NEXT SLIDE.
SO, TODAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT IS A MASSHEALTH RENEWAL. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY NOW AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT MASSHEALTH MEMBERS IN INTERESTING ANDUNDERSTOOD INGUNDERSTANDING HOW TO COMPLETE RENEWALS. THIS IS A PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT RENEWALS. WE KNOW KIDS AND FAMILIES HAVE A SPECTRUM OF NEEDS AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS FOR POPULATIONS, REFUGEES, MEMBERS WITH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MEMBERS WITH DISABILITY AND HAVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR RENEWAL AND LIKE TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK OUT RESOURCES SHOULD YOU HAVE MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS FOR THOSE SPECIAL POPULATIONS. ALL OF THE RECORDINGS, WE ARE DOING WEBINARS AND MATERIALS, WE'LL BE ON THE WEBSITE, WHICH WE'LL SHOW YOU ON A SLIDE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, THE INFORMATION WE PRESENT TODAY IS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY. OR MEMBERS ANYBODY INTERACTING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN MASSHEALTH. WE CALL MASSHEALTH MEMBERS. WE ARE LASERFOCUSSED HERE AT MASSHEALTH TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP ELIGIBLE MEMBERS ENROLLED. IT IS ALLHANDS ON DECK EFFORT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING TODAY AND BE WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. OUR INTENTION AND THIS WEBINAR TO GIVE HELPFUL TIPS TO JOIN US TO SUPPORT MEMBERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO STAY ON MASSHEALTH AND MEMBERS WHO ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO GET CONNECTED TO OTHER AFFORDABLE OPTIONS.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTING YOU TO BE EXPERTS, I'M NOT AN ELIGIBILITY EXPERT. IT IS COMPLICATED AND IF WE CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, WE'LL TAKE THEM BACK TO MAKE SURE WE ANSWER THEM. THIS WEBINAR IS GIVE BASIC ASSISTANCE ON HOW THE PROCESS WILL HELP AND DIRECT FOLKS TOWARDS OUR EXISTING RESOURCES. A BIT OF A LEGAL DISCLAIMER, KEEP IN MIND, BEING INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IS NOT IMPLY YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A MEMBER'S PRIVATE HEALTH INFORMATION, THAT'S PROTECTED, OF COURSE. LIKE ALL HEALTH INFORMATION. AND SHOULDN'T BE DISTRIBUTE ED UNLESS AUTHORIZED TO DO SO. AND THE RIGHT TO ACCESS MASSHEALTH MEMBER INFORMATION IS RESERVED FOR OFFICIALLYDESIGNATED BY THE MEMBER, FOLKS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE MEMBER, CERTAIN MASSHEALTH EMPLOYEES AND ROLES WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER. CACs, CERTIFIED ASSISTANCE COUNSELORS OR NAVIGATORS. THERE IS WORK AND AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS AND HAVE A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN IMPACTING THE MEMBERS IN THE RENEWAL PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT IS A MASSHEALTH RENEWAL? OUR GOAL IS TO HELP DEMYSTIFY THIS. IN GENERAL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES EVERYONE ON MEDICAID, KNOWN AS MASSHEALTH, TO RENEW OR CHECKED EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH. AND THIS IS CALLED AUTORENEWAL. SOMETIMES CALLED AN ANNUAL REVIEW, THIS YEAR IS SPECIAL, WE CALL REDETERMINATIONS. ALL OF THOSE HAVE SIMILAR MEANINGS.
IT IS A PROCESS THAT HAPPENS BY MAIL. THE RENEWAL INFORMATION IS SENT BY MAIL AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL. CHILDREN 18 OR YOUNGER ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF A FAMILY HOUSEHOLD. PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS CONSIDERED THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND MUST APPLY ON THE CHILD'S BEHALF. CHILDREN WHEN TURNED 19, BEING AN CULT AND CHILDREN MAY NEED TO APPLY. WE HAVE MORE DETAILS IN THE RENEWAL GUIDE. A HEADS UP, TURNING 19 OR 20, THOSE MAY NEED SPECIAL ATTENTION THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY COULD BE CONSIDERED PART OF A FAMILY HOUSEHOLD, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY ARE INCLUDED AS A DEPENDENT IN THE FAMILY TAX FILING AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THAT.
SOME MEMBERS MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. IT MEANS WE'LL BE MATCHING BEHIND THE SCENES THEIR INFORMATION AGAINST STATE AND FEDERAL DATA. AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION AND THE DATA MATCH, THEY COULD BE AUTORENEWED. WE'LL SPEAK TO THAT PROCESS IN A FEW SLIDES. FOR FOLKS NOT AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED, THEY WILL RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE, WE'LL SHOW YOU IN A FEW SLIDES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, WHY IS THIS YEAR SPECIAL. WITH EVERYTHING, THE PANDEMIC CHANGED IT ALL. PEOPLE IN MEDICAID OR MASSHEALTH HERE, HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS COURAGE SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2020 AS A RESULT OF THE PROTECTIONS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT IN PLACE DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WE HAVE BEEN PROTECTING MASSHEALTH'S MEMBERS ELIGIBILITY STARTING APRIL 1, EIGHT DAYS AWAY, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENDS CONTINUOUS COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS. WE'LL START THE ONLINE OR RENEWAL PROCESS. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME MEMBERS ARE AT RISK TO LOSE COVERAGE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
ALL MEMBERS WILL GO THROUGH THE RENEWAL PROCESS. REALLY IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER A YEAR. SO MEMBERS CAN GET RENEWAL FORMS ANYTIME OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO A FEW NOTES ON AUTOMATIC RENEWALS. WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN BEHIND THE SCENES TO AUTORENEW WHEN POSSIBLE. THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS, SOME MEMBERS WHO HAVE MASSHEALTH ELIGIBILITY THROUGH ANOTHER AVENUE. SOME OF WHICH ARE LISTED HERE. SO, MEMBERS WHO ARE RECEIVING SSI BECAUSE THEY ARE DISABLED OR HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, MEMBERS WITH TANT, CHILDREN IN DCF CUSTODY, THEY ARE ALL AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH. AND CHILDREN IN DCF CUSTODY UNTIL 18, CHILDREN PREVIOUS IN CUSTODY, BUT ADOPTED, ARE ELIGIBLE UNTIL THEY TURN 22. AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, CHILDREN PREVIOUSLY IN DCF CUSTODY AND NOT ADOPTED CONTINUE TO BE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE UNTIL THEY TURN 26.
IF A CHILD AGES OUT OF THE AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY, THEY WILL RECEIVE MAIL FROM MASSHEALTH INDICATING NEXT STEPS. CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE CUSTODY OF DYS WILL BE RENEWED. SOME MEMBERS, WHO MAY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY, STILL MAY RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE WITH A RENEWAL NOTICE AND WE ASK THAT THEY RESPOND.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, HOW CAN YOU HELP? SO THERE ARE TWO WAY S YOU CAN HELP MEMBERS STAY COVERED. PART ONE, HELP MEMBERS PREPARE FOR RENEWALS AND WE'LL GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHILE WAITING FOR THE RENEWALS TO ARRIVE IN THE MAIL, THERE ARE STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP SUPPORT MEMBER S, UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION. AND PART TWO, HELP MEMBERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMPLETE THE RENEWALS IN THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS FOR THAT. WE'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, PART ONE. HOW TO HELP MASSHEALTH MEMBERS PREPARE FOR RENEWALS. SO, FIRST PART OF THIS, IF THEY HAVE MOVED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, IF THEY HAVE ANY HOUSEHOLD CHANGES, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THEY UPDATE THAT AND WE'LL GO OVER HOW TO DO THAT. SO WE HAVE THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION. ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMIND FOLKS TO READ ALL MAIL THAT COULD BE FROM MASSHEALTH. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE BLUE ENVELOPE, THERE WILL BE OTHER PIECES OF MAIL POTENTIALLY IN ADDITION TO THE BLUE ENVELOPE. LOOKING OUT FOR THE BLUE ENVELOPE, AND OTHER MAIL FROM MASSHEALTH.
AND THEN ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME TO YOU FOR SUPPORT, IF NEEDED. IF YOU HAVE WORK IN A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO POST FLYERS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. PHASE TWO TOOLKIT COMING LIVE AND ON THE WEBSITE WITH RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP YOU POST THINGS IN YOUR SPACES. AND LASTLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY MEMBERFACING COMMUNICATIONS, WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THIS PROCESS AND ANY OF YOUR COMMUNICATIONS. AGAIN, WE HAVE RESOURCES ON THAT AND TALKING POINTS IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, HOW TO HELP MEMBERS UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION? FOR MEMBERS UNDER 65, THE EASIEST WAY WE ENCOURAGE, IF THEY CAN, UPDATE THEIR CHANGES ONLINE AT THIS WEBSITE. THROUGH MASSHEALTH LOGIN ACCOUNT. AND CAN HELP THEM CREATE AN ACCOUNT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE. THEY CAN CALL THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY CAN ALSO WORK WITH A CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELOR, OR CAC, OR NAVIGATOR, ONLINE TO UPDATE INFORMATION.
AND THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD CAN UPDATE THE INFORMATION THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS IS THE BLUE ENVELOPE. MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE. AND ALSO, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LET MEMBERS KNOW THEY COULD BE RECEIVING WHITE ENVELOPES THAT HAVE AUTORENEWAL NOTICE AND OTHER MAIL, INCLUDING REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, OR OTHER VERIFICATIONS NEEDED WE MAY NEED MORE INFORMATION AND THEY WON'T SHOW UP IN THE BLUE ENVELOPE, THEY WILL BE IN A WHITE ENVELOPE. NEXT SLIDE.
SO PART TWO. ONCE MEMBERS RECEIVE THEIR RENEWAL INFORMATION, HOW CAN YOU HELP? FIRST, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T CAN'T READ OR HAS CHALLENGES READING, HELP THEM READ THROUGH IT, SIT DOWN NEXT TO THEM AND HELP THEM WORK THROUGH IT. AND HELP TRANSLATE LANGUAGE AS NECESSARY. WE'LL HAVE FORMS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. AND GET CONCRETE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO COMPLETE THEIR RENEWAL AND SUBMIT. THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO DO THAT. ONLINE, YOU CAN DO IT ON THE PHONE, YOU CAN DO THAT ON PAPER AND SNAIL MAIL. AND SO, WORKING WITH MEMBERS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH OPTION IS BEST FOR THEM. LASTLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING RESOURCES. IF A MEMBER HAS QUESTIONS OR YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU CAN'T ANSWER, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONNECT THEM TO ONE OF THE RESOURCES, WHICH WE'LL GO INTO DETAIL IN A FEW SLIDES. MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS, CACs AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. NEXT SLIDE.
SO, TIMELINE. LOTS OF INFORMATION HERE AND WE'LL POST IT. YOU DON'T NEED TO REMEMBER EACH DEADLINE. WE'LL GIVE YOU BE AWARE OF THE TIMELINES. SO, PART ONE, WE'RE GOING TO AUTORENEW WHEN POSSIBLE. IF WE CAN'T, WE'LL SEND A BLUE ENVELOPE. WITH THE RENEWAL INFORMATION. AND TYPICALLY, MEMBERS HAVE 45 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE RENEWAL NOTICE. IF A MEMBER SENDS IT IN, THE RENEWAL MATERIALS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED, WE'LL SEND A REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THAT RFI. IF FOR SOME REASON, WE HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR COVERAGE AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE, WE'LL SEND A TERMINATION NOTICE. TYPICALLY, MEMBERS HAVE 14 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE NOTICE BEFORE THEIR BENEFITS STOP. AND IF YOU IF A MEMBER IS TERMINATED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RESPOND, YOU CAN CONTACT MASSHEALTH WITHIN 90 DAY S AND WE CAN A PERIOD OF RECONSIDERATION. WE CAN REINSTATE TO THE DAY THEY ARE CLOSED AS LONG AS THEY CONTACT MASSHEALTH WITHIN THE 90 DAYS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, HOW TO COMPLETE THE RENEWAL? SIMILAR TO HOW TO UPDATE INFORMATION. YOU CAN GO TO THIS WEBSITE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NEEDED. THERE'S AN INDIVIDUALIZED LINK IN THE BLUE ENVELOPE. THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO DO IF POSSIBLE. YOU CAN MAIL IT BACK. AND THERE IS THE RETURN MAILING ADDRESS, WHICH WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BLUE ENVELOPE. AND YOU CAN DO IT ON THE PHONE THROUGH MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THROUGH AN ONLINE SCHEDULING TOOL AND WE'LL GO INTO MORE INFORMATION. I FOCUS ON MEMBERS UNDER 65 YEARS OLD BECAUSE THIS IS A KIDS AND FAMILY WEBINAR, WE HAVE DETAILS OVER 65 AND LOOK THEM OVER IN THE SLIDES IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE THREE REALLY IMPORTANT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS IN THE PROCESS. THE FIRST IS THE CALLED THE MECs, MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS. PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH SUPPORT ON THE PHONE, VIRTUAL, OR IN PERSON. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AHEAD OF TIME. AND THERE ARE SIX IN THE STATE AND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT THOSE. PART TWO, RESOURCE TWO, CACs, CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS OR NAVIGATORS. COMMUNITYBASED RESOURCES TO HELP MEMBERS. AND PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP TO KEEP THEIR MASSHEALTH COVERAGE. HELP FOLKS WHO ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH. AND CONNECT WITH RESOURCES. THEY REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT, THEY ARE FREE, THEY ARE VOLUNTARY ROLES AND A WEBSITE TO CONNECT FOLKS TO CACs OR NAVIGATORS. LASTLY, THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS A GREAT RESOURCE. AND MORE INFORMATION HERE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, WE HAVE A ROBUST OUTREACH PLAN TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF ONGOING REDETERMINATIONS AND IT WILL BE HAPPEN IN NINE LANGUAGES. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE FOR ALL ON OUTREACH, AND WE'LL BE HAVING LOCAL LANGUAGE TELEVISION AND RADIO ADS COMING ON LIVE. WE'LL HAVE TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR THE RENEWAL PROCESS. RENEWAL FORMS ARE MAILED IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH, ALSO AVAILABLE IN BRAILLE. AND WE WILL HAVE TRANSLATION SERVICES THROUGH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. AND LASTLY, WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR FOLKS THROUGH THE CACs TO HELP MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS IF ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. NEXT.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HEALTH PLAN TO ENSURE THEY HAVE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO OUTREACH. TOOLKIT, ASSISTANCE TO VALIDATE MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION AND PROVIDING CONSISTENT DATA EXCHANGE. EACH WEEK SENDING TO PLANS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT OUTREACH INBOUND AND OUTBOUND FOR A STREAMLINE PLAN FOR PLANS TO CONNECT TO MEMBERS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, IF A MEMBER GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL HAVE INSURANCE. HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, FOR PEOPLE UNDER 65, WE HAVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MASSHEALTH CONNECTOR. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CONNECTOR. IF SOMEONE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH, WE SUPPORT FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE CONNECTOR. AS NOTE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU CAN USUALLY ONLY ENROLL AT CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR. BECAUSE LOSING MASSHEALTH COVERAGE IS A QUALIFYING LIFE EVENT, IT WILL ALLOW MEMBERS TO ENROLL IN THE CONNECTOR OUTSIDE OF THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PLAN. MORE INFORMATION OVER 65. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. THIS IS A KIDS AND FAMILY WEBINAR, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. AND OUTREACH AVENUES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, SCHOOLS. WE KNOW SCHOOLS ARE A SYSTEM THAT ALL KIDS TOUCH. WE ARE PARTNERING AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE SCHOOLS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND UNDERSTANDING THE REDETERMINATION PROCESS. SO, WAYS THE SCHOOLS CAN I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE FOLKS FROM THE SCHOOLS ON THE WEBINAR, EMAIL INFORMATION ABOUT REDETERMINATIONS REDETERMINATIONS, LISTSERVS, SEND ING INFORMATION HOME IN BACKPACKS. POSTING FLYERS. IN PLACES THAT KIDS VISIT, SUCH AS DROVEOFF AND PICKUP AREAS AND ROBO CALLS TO FAMILIES. WE KNOW THEY ARE EFFECTIVE FOR COVID AND ENCOUNTERING SCHOOL ENCOURAGING SCHOOLS TO USE THEM FOR THIS PROCESS AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE.
PREMIUM AND ASSISTANCE. MASSHEALTH MEMBERS AND FAMILIES MAY BE REQUIRED TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR THE MASSHEALTH COVERAGE IF THEIR INCOME IS ABOVE 150%. DIDN'T THE EMERGENCY, MASSHEALTH DIDN'T RAISE PREMIUMS AND DIDN'T CLOSE CASES DUE TO FAILURE PREMIUMS. DISABILITY STATUS DOESN'T EXEMPT THEM FROM PREMIUM REQUIREMENTS. TYPICALLY THEY ARE REDUCED WITH A DECREASE IN INCOME AND MAY INCREASE IF A MEMBER REPORTS AN INCREASE IN INCOME. IN MAY, MASSHEALTH WILL RESUME THE NORMAL PREMIUM PROCESSES.
THAT MEANS THAT MASSHEALTH MEMBERS MAY BE CLOSED FOR FAILURE TO PAY PREMIUMS. PREMIUMS WILL BE ADJUSTED DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE FAMILY INCOME CHANGED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE 60DAY NOTICE REGARDING THE PREMIUM CHANGES. SECOND PART, MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO EMPLOYEE EMPLOYERSPONSORED INSURANCE ARE REQUIRED TO ENROLL AND MAINTAIN COVERAGE. MASSHEALTH MAY OFFER HELP TO PAY THE PREMIUM, WE CALL IT PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS WILL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE IN THE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, YOU MAY RECEIVE ADDITIONAL MAIL FOR YOU TO COMPLETE REGARDING THE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE. THAT'S ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS. IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT MAIL AS WELL.
AND NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. AGAIN, NOT AN ELIGIBILITY EXPERT AND THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX DISABILITY PROCESSES. WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HIGHLEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE WAYS IN WHICH DISABILITY IS DETERMINED FOR MASSHEALTH. SO, TWO PRONGS. HIGH LEVEL TO DISABILITY DETERMINATION. ON THE LEFT, A PATHWAY FOR DISABILITY DETERMINATION THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR THE MASS COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND. THIS INCLUDES SSI AND SSDI. CHILDREN WHO ARE RECEIVING SSI ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY, WILL MOSTLY BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED IF THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SSI BENEFITS. AND THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THERE THAT YOU CAN READ THROUGH AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. ON THE RIGHT, A DISABILITY EVALUATION SERVICE PATHWAY, INCLUDING MEMBERS WHO COMPLETED A DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT WHEN THEY FIRST GOT MASSHEALTH. SO IF THE CHILD'S DISABILITY IS DETERMINED THROUGH THE STATE DISABILITY EVALUATION SERVICES, DES, THE DISABILITY EVALUATION MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED AT THE TIME OF THE MASSHEALTH RENEWAL. THIS IS DEPENDENT ON THE MEMBER'S INDIVIDUAL CASE AND RENEWAL TIMING.
IF THE DISABILITY EVALUATION IS UPDATED, MEMBER WILL RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL. IT WILL FOLLOW ANNUAL PROCESS, THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THIS RENEWAL PROCESS. WE'LL MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT WE CAN TO RENEW THE ELIGIBILITY AUTOMATICALLY SO THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO, WE'LL SEND INFORMATION REGARDING DISABILITY IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY. ONE OF THE TAKEHOME MESSAGES, IF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, THEY WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL MAIL TO THE BLUE ENVELOPE. THE BLUE ENVELOPE IS FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
LASTLY, THIS EFFORT IS NOT IT IS ADJACENT IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING COMPREHENSIVE AND ENSURING MEMBERS RECEIVE THE FULL ARRAY OF BENEFITS. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROCESS FOR SELFREPORTING, PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM MEMBERS. WE NOW HAVE 12 MONTH OF CONTINUOUS COVERAGE POSTPARTUM, WE WANT TO ENSURE MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IF MEMBERS SELFREPORT THEIR PREGNANCY STATUS TO MASSHEALTH. CURRENTLY THERE ARE A FEW OPTIONS. THEY WILL LOOK FAMILIAR TO UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION FOR YOUR ADDRESS AND OTHER WAYS WE NEED OTHER INFORMATION UPDATED. SIMILAR AVENUES FOR REPORTING THAT YOU ARE PREGNANT. YOU CAN CALL THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO UPDATE PREGNANCY STATUS. YOU CAN LOG INTO THE MEMBER PORTAL TO SELFREPORT. YOU CAN GET SUPPORT IN PERSON TO UPDATE PREGNANCY STATUS IN THE SELFENROLLMENT CENTERS. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. FEW MORE SLIDES. RENEWAL GUIDE SHOULD BE COMING LIVE ANY DAY NOW. THIS IS A VERY DETAILED GUIDE THAT WILL ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, WE HOPE. AND THIS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND HOPEFULLY A GREAT RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS OUR WEBSITE. THIS IS WHERE WE'LL PUT ALL OF THE RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE WEBINAR RECORDINGS, RENEWAL GUIDE. EVERYTHING ABOUT RENEWALS WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IF YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF GETTING THIS INFORMATION, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT REDETERMINATION. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR A LISTSERV. YOU CAN JOIN THE MASSHEALTH CARE TRAINING FORM, TO ATTEND TRAININGS AND HEAR ABOUT THEM. INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN HERE ON THE SLIDE. AND YOU CAN BECOME PART OF THE PROGRAM CAC PROGRAM, THEY HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS, ENROLL IN PLANS, MAINTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, IT IS A JOINTLYADMINISTERED PROGRAM BETWEEN MASSHEALTH AND THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH CONNECTOR. IT IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. NO ONE PAYS FOR THE HELP THEY RECEIVE FROM A CAC. INDIVIDUALS DO NOT NEED A CAC TO APPLY OR RECEIVE BENEFITS. CACs HELP PEOPLE APPLY. IMPORTANTLY, INDIVIDUALS ALONE CANNOT BECOME CACs. YOUR ORGANIZATION MUST PARTNER WITH MASSHEALTH AND THERE ARE TRAINING AND MORE INFORMATION ON THE CAC PROGRAM ONLINE IF INTERESTED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO SIGN UP TO BECOME A CAC. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. SUMMARY, HERE ARE FINAL TIPS AND REMINDERS. POINT ONE, POINT PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE WHEN POSSIBLE TO UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION TO RENEW THEIR COVERAGE. ON THE EASIEST WAY IS ONLINE. AND POINT THREE, REMIND MEMBERS TO TELL MASSHEALTH IF THEY HAVE NEW OR CHANGED JOBS OR INCOME. ESSENTIAL FOR ADDRESS CHANGE TO ENSURE THEY GET THE BLUE ENVELOPE. AND ALL THE CHANGES CAN BE UPDATED ONLINE OR THROUGH THE OTHER AVENUES WE TALKED ABOUT. WE DO EXPECT THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER WILL HAVE LONGER THAN USUAL HOLD TIMES. WE ASK FOR PATIENCE AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE DIRECTING PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE, IF POSSIBLE. THEY CAN AVOID THE LONGER WAIT TIME TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS HAPPENING OVER 12 MONTHS. IF YOU DON'T THERE WILL NOT ALL COME OUT IN APRIL OF 2023. YOU MAY GET A BLUE ENVELOPE AT ANY POINT IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WHICH WE KNOW IS HARD TO MANAGE ANXIETY ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY, THAT MESSAGE WILL BE HELPFUL FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE THE ENVELOPE, IT WILL COME OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND WE ENCOURAGE, A LOT OF EXISTING RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS, WE APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT POINTING THEM IN THAT DIRECTION TO GET EXTRA SUPPORT, IF NEEDED. AND WE JUST WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING PARTNERS WITH US. IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT MASSHEALTH MEMBERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE CONTINUE TO STAY COVERED AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND INTEREST IN THIS.
I THINK THAT'S IT. AND NOW WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME COMING IN FROM THE CHAT.
>> RACHEL, KELLY? ANY QUESTIONS LIVE FROM THE CHAT?
>> SURE. AM I ECHOING? ARE PEOPLE HEARING AN ECHO? MADI, ARE YOU HEARING AN ECHO.
>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECHO. IT SOUNDS OKAY. TRY AGAIN.
>> MAYBE I CAN TAKE THAT FIRST QUESTION ON THE 45DAY RECONSIDERATION PERIOD. DO YOU MIND BRINGING BACK UP THE SLIDE WITH THE BLUE ARROW. I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION IN THE CHAT ON WHAT HAPPENS IF THE 45 DAY PASSES AND A MEMBER ISN'T RENEWED OR THE FAMILY DOESN'T COMPLETE THE RENEWAL. FLIP BACK TO THIS ONE, MEMBERS HAVE 45 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE RENEWAL THAT WILL ARRIVE IN THE BLUE ENVELOPE. IF THEY ARE IN LONGTERM CARE, THIS IS 30 DAYS AND ALWAYS BEEN THE TIMELINE. THIS IS NOT CHANGING. IF MEMBERS RECEIVE AN RFI AFTER THE RENEWAL, A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, THAT EXTENDS THE TIME CLOCK BY ANOTHER 90 DAYS. IF AT THAT POINT, AFTER THE 45 DAYS OR THE 90 DAYS, THE MEMBER THE FAMILY STILL DIDN'T RESPOND, THE COVERAGE WILL BE TERMINATED. THEY WILL RECEIVE A TERMINATION NOTICE 14 DAYS BEFORE THE COVERAGE STOPS. IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AFTER THAT, THERE IS A 90DAY RENEWAL RECONSIDERATION PERIOD.
AS LONG AS THE MEMBER CONTACTS MASSHEALTH, WITHIN THE 90 DAYS, AFTER THEIR CASE IS CLOSED, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR COVERAGE REINSTATED. DOES THAT ANSWER THAT QUESTION? MAYBE GOING TO THE CHAT IF IT WAS NOT ANSWERED.
SOME OF THESE, MAYBE I WILL WORK THROUGH A FEW OTHERS IN THE CHAT. YES, THE SLIDES WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE WEBINAR. WE'LL BE POSTING THEM ALONGSIDE THE RECORDING OF THE WEBINAR ON THE WEBSITE. REGARDING CHILDREN ON SSI. SO, SSI IS A CATEGORY ASSISTANCE WHERE MANY PEOPLE WILL BE AUTORENEWED. EVERY PERSON'S CIRCUMSTANCES IS DIFFERENT. FOR A SPECIFIC CHILD, YOU WOULD NEED TO CHECK WITH THE CALL CENTER OR A MEC TO CONFIRM. SSI USUALLY CAN BE AUTORENEWED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT IS VIEWABLE ON AN ONLINE ACCOUNT. SO, CAN YOU SEE IF THEY HAVE IF YOU ARE AUTORENEWED, CAN YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE AN OPEN RENEWAL. GREAT QUESTIONS, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. LET US TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS ON THE ONLINE ACCOUNT BACK. WE'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH ANSWERS ON THEM.
>> RACHEL, I SEE A QUESTION. I CAN I KNOW IT IS HARD TO MONITOR THE CHAT AND ANSWER. IF A MEMBER JUST COMPLETED A RENEWAL IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THEIR RENEWAL DURING THIS PERIOD?
>> DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE, ELIZABETH?
>> YES, SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO TRICK YOU THERE. IF A MEMBER HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A RENEWAL, SUCH AS IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE SELECTED TO COMPLETE THE NEXT RENEWAL IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY OF 2024. SO EVERYONE HAS TO GO THROUGH RENEWAL ANNUALLY. IT IS AN ANNUAL REQUIREMENT. YOU WILL SEE THAT COME THROUGH AT SOME POINT IN THAT UPCOMING YEAR.
LET'S SEE. IF A PERSON OR FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND DOESN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL MAILING ADDRESS, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE'RE THINKING A LOT ABOUT OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SHELTERS. WE'RE DOING SPECIFIC MESSAGING TO SUPPORT MEMBERS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE. THEY CAN ALSO CALL THE CONTACT CENTER FOR SUPPORT TO COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION. THEY DO NOT NEED TO RELY ON THAT BLUE ENVELOPE. WE WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY HAVE EMAIL OR A PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS ON FILE WITH MASSHEALTH AS WE'LL DO TEXT AND EMAIL OUTREACH, RECOGNIZING THAT NOT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS THEY WILL BE STAYING AT. I SEE A QUESTION ABOUT RENEWING ONLINE. IN TERMS OF WHAT SECTION THE WEBSITE SHOULD PEOPLE BE DIRECT TOWARDS. THIS IS ALSO A GREAT QUESTION. SO, MEMBERS WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 65, THEY WILL RENEW THROUGH THEIR MA LOGIN ACCOUNT. MEMBERS WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER, WILL DO THEIR RENEWAL ONLINE THROUGH ESUBMISSION. I KNOW THAT THE WORDS MAY NOT MEAN MUCH. I PROMISE WE HAVE MORE DETAIL. ONE RESOURCE THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THEM IS IF WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A RENEWAL HELP GUIDE. IT WILL WALK THROUGH HOW TO USE THE ONLINE PLATFORMS IN MORE DETAIL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT RENEWAL HELP GUIDE ONCE IT IS LIVE. IT IS COMING SOON. AT MASS.GOV/MASSHEALTHRENEW. IT HAS GREAT RESOURCES FOR YOU TO USE. FLYERS, POSTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT MADI MENTIONED, AS WELL AS PRESENTATIONS SUCH AS THIS, YOU CAN ALSO USE TO PULL INFORMATION FROM.
ONE PAGE I DIRECT FOLKS TO, IF YOU GO TO MASSHEALTH RENEW, THERE'S A BUTTON AT THE TOP THAT SAYS RENEW COVERAGE. I WILL POP THE LINK OF THE RENEW YOUR COVERAGE PAGE INTO THE CHAT. THIS PAGE WILL REALLY WALK YOU THROUGH THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT A MEMBER CAN RENEW, WHETHER IT IS ONLINE, BY PHONE, MAIL, FAX, OR IN PERSON. IT IS A GREAT ONESTOP SHOP TO FIND THE BEST WAY FOR A MEMBER TO RENEW. I SEE A GREAT QUESTION FROM EMILY ABOUT WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD KNOW WHEN THEY ARE RECEIVING THEIR RENEWAL WITHIN THE 12MONTH PERIOD. IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS COMPLICATED OF AN ANSWER. MOST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON MASSHEALTH WILL RECEIVE THEIR BLUE ENVELOPE AND RENEWAL FORM ONE YEAR AFTER THEIR LAST RENEWAL. SO, IF AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLETED THEIR RENEWAL PROCESS IN JULY OF 2022, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE SELECTED IN JULY OF 2023 TO COMPLETE THEIR RENEWAL. THAT MEANS THEY SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT IN JULY FOR THAT BLUE ENVELOPE WITH THE RENEWAL FORM. IF A MEMBER HAS NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR RENEWAL IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I'M SORRY, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SINCE 2020, THEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR BLUE ENVELOPE WITH THEIR RENEWAL FORM BETWEEN APRIL AND THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THE PROJECT. THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THE UPCOMING YEAR.
WHAT I'D RECOMMEND YOU SHARE WITH A MEMBER WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT THIS, THEY SHOULD REALLY MAKE SURE THEY HAVE UPDATED THEIR INFORMATION WITH MASSHEALTH SO THEY HAVE GIVEN US THEIR BEST MAILING ADDRESS, SHARED THEIR PHONE NUMBER, THEIR EMAIL, SO WE'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY ALSO ARE MAKING SURE THEY ARE READING ALL THEIR MAIL. THAT BLUE ENVELOPE WILL INCLUDE THE RENEWAL FORM, BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO AUTOMATICALLY RENEW THEM, THEY WILL INSTEAD GET A NOTICE INFORMING THEM THEY ARE ALL SET FOR THE YEAR. IN A WHITE ENVELOPE. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE US THEIR UPDATED INFORMATION AND THEY READ ALL THEIR MAIL. IF THEY EVER HAVE A QUESTION, THEY CAN CALL THE CONTACT CENTER OR REACH OUT TO A CAC OR NAVIGATOR FOR SUPPORT AS WELL.
LET'S SEE. GREAT QUESTION ABOUT MAKING AN ONLINE ACCOUNT. MEMBERS UNDER 65, IF THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ONLINE ACCOUNT, THEY CERTAINLY CAN MAKE ONE NOW. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THEY DO SO. AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE. AND I WILL LINK THIS IN THE CHAT. THIS IS THE LANDING PAGE FOR THE MA LOGIN ACCOUNTS. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN SIGN INTO ACCOUNT IF YOU HAVE ONE OR WHERE YOU CAN CREATE AN ACCOUNT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE YET. I SEE A QUESTION FROM JULIE MCKINNEY ABOUT CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL CAC. I BELIEVE THAT THE RENEWAL HELP GUIDE WILL SHOW YOU WHERE YOU CAN FIND LOCAL CACsme IN YOUR AREA. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AND APOLOGIES. CAC: CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSEL OR. ABLE TO HELP MEMBERS WITH RENEWAL AND HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY MASSHEALTH TO DO SO.
>> ADDED THAT TO THE CHAT.
>> THANKS. I SEE A MISSED A QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT IF A HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD IS OVER THE AGE OF 65, BUT MEMBERS OF THE MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD ARE NOT. FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE'S A GRANDPARENT WHO IS OVER THE AGE OF 65 WITH CUSTODY OF SCHOOLAGE CHILDREN. IT CAN DEPEND ON THE EXACT SCENARIO. THERE ARE CASES WHERE THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY BE PART OF OUR MAGI ELIGIBILITY. IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE IT OFFLINE OR YOU CAN REACH OUT FOR THE SPECIFIC MEMBER FOR A CAC OR THE MASSHEALTH CONTACT CENTER AS WELL. I WOULDN'T WANT TO CONFUSE FOLKS. A QUESTION IF A MEMBER IS TERMINATED AFTER SUBMITTING UNUSUAL RENEWAL DOCUMENTATION, WOULD THEY ENTER A RENEWAL RECONSIDERATION PERIOD?
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE RENEWAL RECONSIDERATION PERIOD IS INTENDED FOR MEMBERS WHO DID NOT RESPOND. IN THE SCENARIO PROPOSED IN THE CHAT, WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH. BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY WOULDN'T ENTER THIS RENEWAL RECONSIDERATION PERIOD. HOWEVER, IF SOMETHING CHANGED, FOR INSTANCE, THEY LOSE THEIR JOB OR SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE, THEY CERTAINLY CAN APPLY FOR MASSHEALTH AT THE TIME.
SO, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ABOUT LETTERS THAT HAVE GONE OUT ABOUT... LETTERS THAT HAVE GONE OUT FROM MASSHEALTH TO MEMBER S SAYING THAT THEY RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM A TRUSTED RESOURCE THAT THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT ADDRESS ON FILE. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING IT FOR ME. I CAN CONFIRM, A HUGE PART OF THE FOCUS AT MASSHEALTH IS DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE REACH MEMBERS DURING THE REDETERMINATION PROCESS. IN PART OF THAT, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BEST CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS. TO SUPPORT THIS, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE DID A ONETIME DATA MATCH WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE DATA WE HAD ON FILE FOR MEMBERS WITH DATA FROM TRUSTED THIRDPARTY SOURCES. IN INSTANCES WHERE WE SAW THERE WAS A DIFFERENT ADDRESS, WE NOTICED MEMBERS TO BOTH THE NEW ADDRESS AND THEIR CURRENT ADDRESS ON FILE INFORMING THEM THAT WE HAVE REASON TO THINK THEY MAY HAVE MOVED AND TO MAKE SURE TO UPDATE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH US. I APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING THAT AND CAN SHARE THAT IT WAS A NOTICE FROM MASSHEALTH. IF MEMBERS RECEIVE THAT, THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO MASSHEALTH AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT ADDRESS FOR THEM ON FILE. AND ALSO, THE RIGHT PHONE AND EMAIL AS WELL SINCE THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE ON A MEMBER, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE ABLE TO REACH THEM. I ALSO SEE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE LIKELY TO FALL INTO THE BLUE ENVELOPE PROCESS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO, YES, MOST FAMILIES MOST INDIVIDUALS ON MASSHEALTH WILL GO THROUGH THE I'M SORRY. LET ME START AGAIN. SO, EVERYONE ON MASSHEALTH WILL NEED TO BE RENEWED THIS YEAR. FOR EVERY MEMBER THAT NEEDS TO BE RENEWED, WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO AUTORENEW THEM. AND AUTORENEW THEM AS MADI AND RACHEL SHARED, WE TAKE THE DATA WE HAVE ON FILE AND MATCHING IT AGAINST FEDERAL AND STATE DATA SOURCES. IF WE ARE ABLE TO USE THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION AND CONFIRM THEIR ELIGIBILITY, THAT INDIVIDUAL IS AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. HISTORICALLY, I THINK WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT HALF OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE THEIR DATA AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. MEANING, THEY WOULDN'T GET THAT BLUE ENVELOPE AND WOULDN'T NEED TO COMPLETE THE RENEWAL.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE, THOUGH, IS THAT IF YOU GET A BLUE ENVELOPE, YOU SHOULD RESPOND AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE UPDATED INFORMATION. WE ARE HOPING THAT ABOUT HALF OF FOLKS ARE ABLE TO BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. I SEE A FOLLOWUP ABOUT THE RECONSIDERATION PERIOD. IF THERE IS A PROCESS FOR MEMBERS TO CONTEST THEIR ELIGIBILITY. YES, SO MEMBERS WHOSE COVERAGE ENDS, THEY WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE, TERMINATION NOTICE WITH THE FAIR HEARING RATES AND SHOWS THEM HOW TO GO THROUGH THE APPEAL OR HEARING PROCESS IF THEY FEEL THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE LOST THEIR COVERAGE. IF A MEMBER DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE INITIAL RENEWAL NOTICE WITHIN THE 45 DAYS, THEN BECAUSE WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THAT NOTICE, THEN WE WOULD ACT ON THE INFORMATION WE DON'T HAVE AND MOST LIKELY CLOSE OR DOWNGRADE THE PERSON'S COVERAGE. A MEMBER WOULD RECEIVE AN RFI IN A SCENARIO IN WHICH THEY DO RETURN THAT RENEWAL NOTICE, BUT IT IS INCOMPLETE. WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE MEMBER, THEY TRIED TO RENEW, BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED. IF A MEMBER DOESN'T REPLY AT ALL, THEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO CLARIFY, WE'D CLOSE THAT MEMBER AND THEN SEND THEM THE NOTICE OF TERMINATION.
QUESTION ABOUT DOWNGRADING AND SORRY FOR THE INSIDE BASEBALL SPEAK HERE. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COVERAGE AT MASSHEALTH. SOME ARE MORE COMPREHENSIVE. MEANING THEY COVER THEY DON'T HAVE PREMIUMS OR THINGS LIKE THAT OR COVER DIFFERENT SERVICES. SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAY DOWNGRADE, IT GOES FROM MORE OF A COMPREHENSIVE BENEFIT TO A LESSER BENEFIT. APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL TERM THERE.
I DON'T THINK I SEE ANYMORE QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT, WHICH MAY BE GOOD. I'M COUGHING MORE HERE, I'M SORRY. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TOO MUCH. SO, MADI AND RACHEL, I WILL HAND IT BACK TO YOU ALL.
>> THANKS, ELIZABETH. IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME GO AHEAD.
>> I LOVE THE QUESTION IN THE CHAT. VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE DO HAVE FLYERS TRANSLATED INTO 9 LANGUAGES. SO, LET ME POP THE DIRECT LINK IN HERE. SO FOLKS CAN ACCESS THOSE. HERE IS THE LINK DIRECTLY TO THE FLYERS THEMSELVES. AND WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS FOR YOU WILL SEE A PHOTO OF THE FLYER, WHICH IS IN ENGLISH. RIGHT BELOW THE PHOTO OF THE FLYER, YOU'LL SEE THE YOU WILL SEE A FILE LINK, WHICH... I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT LINK HERE TO GIVE YOU ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION. I THINK I SENT THE TOOLKIT LINK, NOT THIS. TAKE TWO ON THE LINK. MY APOLOGIES. THE LINK I POPPED IN THE CHAT, FOR EVERY FLYER, SOCIAL MEDIA POST WE INCLUDE, BENEATH THE IMAGE, YOU SEE A PDF, FIRST ONE IS MASSHEALTH REDETERMINATION POSTER, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THE FLYER IS IN. IF YOU CLICK ON THE LANGUAGE, IT WILL DOWNLOAD THE POSTER IN THAT LANGUAGE. YOU CAN CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW IT, IT WILL DOWNLOAD A ZIP FILE OF THE POSTER IN ALL OF THE 9 LANGUAGES.
DAN, GREAT QUESTION. WE DON'T HAVE ESTIMATES DIRECTLY OF REASONS MEMBERS WON'T BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THEIR MOST RECENT INFORMATION. WE DO I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE NEWS, WE DO EXPECT OUR CASELOAD TO DECREASE SIGNIFICANT LY, LIKELY BY 300,000 IN THE END, FOLLOWING THE PROCESS. WE ANTICIPATE MANY OF THESE WILL TRANSITION TO THE CONNECTOR OR BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYER INSURANCE.
ALSO, I WANT TO ECHO, HUGE THANKS TO LISA FOR INTERPRETING THIS FULL SESSION ON HER OWN. THAT IS INCREDIBLE JOB AND I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN USING ALL SORTS OF TECHNICAL TERMS. GRATEFUL TO HER.
>> OKAY. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME AND FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. WE WILL BE POSTING MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, PHASE TWO TOOLKIT COMING SOON. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT AND DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.