The end of Covid-19 state of emergency means millions around the nation, including 3 million Georgians, could lose Medicaid for the first time since March of 2020.
The end of the Federal Public Health Emergency for Covid-19 on May 11th 2023 could lead to millions across the country being removed from Medicaid rolls. Under temporary COVID-19 rules established at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, state level Medicaid administrations ceased reassessing and removing recipients of Medicaid, so as to not leave people uninsured during the pandemic. With these rules no longer in place at the Federal level, the state of Georgia’s temporary provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility are coming to an end.
Starting this past Friday, May 12th, the state of Georgia began sending out warning notices to Medicaid recipients in Georgia. The state claims the recipients of the warnings have been asked for proof of eligibility but have not responded.
Advocacy groups argue that rolling back the expanded Medicaid provisions may leave many individuals without access to affordable healthcare. They are calling for policymakers to reconsider this decision and explore alternative solutions to ensure comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Georgians. The state of Georgia could still opt into medicaid expansion via the Affordable Care Act and guarantee healthcare for all its citizens below the Federal Poverty Line.
If you are currently enrolled in Medicare, be on the look-out for attempts by the Georgia Division of Family & Child Services (DFCS) or Department of Human Services (DHS) to contact you about your Medicaid eligibility. This may come by mail or by e-mail, and should be labeled “reassessment of Medicaid eligibility” or something similar.
If you have a “Gateway” account online for managing your Medicaid account, please make sure your e-mail address and your mailing address are correct, especially if you have moved since the beginning of the pandemic state of emergency in March of 2020. If they have incorrect contact information for you, the state might mark you as ineligible and remove you from Medicaid, so please be vigilant if you are a recipient of Medicaid.
If you don’t have reliable internet access at home or work, or are helping someone who doesn’t, you can also update your contact information by calling this #:
Call DHS/DFCS at 1-877-GA-DHS-GO (1-877-423-4746)
If you have a disability related to hearing or speaking, dial 711 first and request the number above.
DFCS will accept a Medicaid enrollee using someone else as a point of contact, but be sure to confirm that point of contact with the department by contacting them directly.
If you receive a notification about reassessment or a warning that you might lose your Medicaid eligibility, you will need to submit paperwork to the DFCS, including paperwork related to your income (or lack of income).
You can submit this paperwork via your Gateway portal online, or by going to your local DFCS office. You can find out what information you will need to provide here: https://staycovered.ga.gov
Here in Gilmer County, our DFCS office is located at 222 Highland Crossing S #100, Ellijay, GA 30536, which is next to the IHOP and Taco Bell along 515, in the same complex as the Wal-Mart. Their phone number is (706) 635-2361.
For those without a computer or access to the internet, there are several free local options. Head on down to the Gilmer County Public Library and get online there.
Here’s their address and hours:
268 Calvin Jackson Dr, Ellijay, GA 30540;
9AM-8PM M-T, 9AM-6PM F/S, Closed Sundays.
You can also come to the Ellijay Makerspace and use our WiFi or computers free of charge to access your Medicaid Gateway. We’re located at 54 Kiker Street up on the hill behind the Budget Inn, our hours are 10:30AM to 8PM M-F and 10AM to 6PM Saturday & Sunday.
We will continue to follow this story and provide any further developments.