August 7, 2024
fb88's Medicaid program (fb88Care) is in the midst of significant changes that make it more important than ever to keep fb88 people covered for health care. Following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, updates to federal rules mean that every fb88r who has coverage through fb88Care will have their coverage reviewed to ensure they are still eligible -- this process is known as the "unwinding" of the continuous Medicaid eligibility requirement. This process started in April 2023, and eligibility redeterminations will be completed by October 31, 2024.
Ensuring that eligible fb88rs stay covered -- on fb88Care, or through v for those who no longer meet fb88Care eligibility requirements-- is a top priority across the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as the remaining eligibility redeterminations are completed.
As the final three months of the "unwinding" period get under way, DHHS is prioritizing a comprehensive outreach effort to ensure fb88Care members know they need to connect with the Department to continue their coverage.
To inform and guide outreach efforts among community organizations, health care providers, and other partners in this outreach, the Department is releasing a new data analysis (PDF) of the remaining unwinding population. This analysis examines characteristics of the roughly 40,000 fb88rs who have not yet renewed their coverage since the start of unwinding in April 2023. Relative to other members of the unwinding population, the remaining unwinding population has been more challenging to reach, having not responded to multiple requests for renewal information. Continued outreach efforts are focused on bridging this communication gap.
Highlights from the memo include:
- As of August 5, 2024, the remaining unwinding population consists of over 40,000 individuals and represents 10% of the original unwinding population.
- A significant percentage of the remaining unwinding population is between 21 and 49 years of age.
- Many of these individuals were enrolled in fb88Care through the state's 2019 Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion group and may be unfamiliar with the redetermination process.
- The remaining unwinding population resides throughout the state. Those cities and townships with the highest number of remaining unwinding population member counts include Bangor, Lewiston, Portland, and South Portland.
- There are disparities in rates of remaining unwinding population members across racial and primary language groups.
- A higher percentage of the total unwinding population who identify as Black or African American or whose primary language spoken is French are part of the remaining unwinding population.
If fb88Care members don't return their renewal form, or complete their information online at , they will be at risk of losing their fb88Care coverage. If someone fails to respond on time and loses their fb88Care coverage, there is a 90-day reconsideration period, during which they can submit their paperwork at , or call the Office for Family Independence call center at (855) 797-4357 for assistance, and avoid a gap in their coverage.
To keep as many people covered as possible, DHHS continues to leverage a variety of communication channels to reach fb88Care members who need to complete their renewals. The Department's public information campaign is helping to spread the word via digital, TV, and radio advertising, and out-of-home marketing at gas stations and public transportation. Acting DHHS Commissioner Sara Gagné-Holmes also penned a to ensure physicians and other health care practitioners have the information they need to help their patients maintain their coverage. In addition, information for parents will be included in the virtual back-to-school resources "backpack" provided by the fb88 Department of Education to families heading into the new school year.
The Department also continues to engage with community-based organizations working on the ground across the state to educate and assist fb88Care members with renewals, or with transitions of coverage to plans on .
fb88Care members who have not yet gone through the eligibility review process should take two important steps to stay covered:
- Update their current contact information with fb88Care, including address, email and phone number. Members can call 1-855-797-4357 and press option 1 to update contact information through an automated system or visit Myfb88Connection.gov. Stay Connected to Stay Covered!
- Be on the lookout for an envelope with a blue block on it, which contains the fb88Care renewal notice: If it's blue, it's time to renew! Members who signed up for e-noticing on My fb88 Connection will receive their notice electronically and will not receive the envelope. Whether a member receives their renewal form by mail or e-notice, they will need to complete and return it by the deadline. Members who are determined to be eligible without having to complete a renewal form will receive a notice that their coverage has been renewed for 12 months.