Preparing for the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and the Medicaid Continuous Coverage Requirement

In January 2020 the federal government declared a COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. To help people keep access to health care coverage and meet basic needs, the emergency declaration included temporary increases to monthly payment amounts for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and required states to adjust certain eligibility rules for people covered by Medicaid (known in Maine as MaineCare) to ensure continued coverage, in exchange for enhanced federal funding.

In December 2022, Congress passed a law that separates the continuous coverage provision from the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing a fixed end date of March 31, 2023. This has two important impacts for Maine people who receive SNAP benefits and/or are enrolled in MaineCare:

• SNAP benefits will return to their pre-PHE base amounts starting in March 2023.
• The State of Maine will need to review eligibility of everyone enrolled in MaineCare and disenroll individuals no longer eligible. The federal government has dubbed this process the “unwinding.”

Other eligibility changes tied to the PHE will end on May 11, 2023, as directed by the federal government. DHHS is working to ensure Maine residents covered by MaineCare and SNAP are ready for these changes. 

Information about SNAP

The Emergency Maximum Allotments ended February 28, 2023.

Since April of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP participants in Maine have received a temporary increase to their household benefit. These emergency benefits increased the monthly amount of SNAP benefits in many Maine households. This additional emergency SNAP benefit ended February 28, 2023.

SNAP recipients will see a decrease in benefits starting in March 2023. They will receive the budgeted amount showing in their last Notice of Decision. You can review your benefits at mymaineconnection.gov.

The Department understands this may cause a disruption to your food budgeting. Tips for shopping on a budget can be found at mainesnap-ed.org.  For a list of food pantries or other food resources, you can call 211 or visit 211maine.org for a list of programs in your area.

Late verifications may result in reduced benefits.

While Emergency Maximum Allotments were in effect households received the maximum allotment for a full month even if they were only eligible for a partial month. Starting March 2023, if your case closes for failure to provide verifications and you are later found eligible for SNAP the month after closure, that month's benefit will be prorated to the date you provided the verifications.

Information for MaineCare Members

When do the changes to eligibility take effect?

MaineCare redeterminations and normal eligibility requirements will resume April 1, 2023. All members must complete a renewal to see if they are still eligible for MaineCare. This renewal effort will start in April 2023 and continue for 12 months.

Is your contact information up to date?

OFI will be reaching out to all current MaineCare members with more information about the end of the continuous coverage requirement and the renewal process. 

To make sure you receive this information, we are asking all MaineCare members to make sure their contact information is complete and current. 

You can log in to My Maine Connection or call 1-855-797-4357 to confirm or change your contact information. See the “Questions about the end of the Continuous Coverage Requirement” section below for more information and detailed instructions.

Information about MaineCare Eligibility Changes

Information about who will be eligible for MaineCare after the continuous coverage requirement ends is available from the DHHS Office for Family Independence online or by calling 1-855-797-4357.  

If you are no longer eligible for MaineCare

Even if you do not qualify for MaineCare, you may be able eligible to receive financial help paying for health insurance when you purchase coverage through the individual marketplace. Learn more at CoverME.gov.

 

Questions about the end of the Continuous Coverage Requirement

What are the changes to the eligibility rules?

 

During the PHE, most Mainers have been allowed to keep their MaineCare coverage even if they did not renew, did not respond to requests for information, or no longer qualified for coverage because of changes like increased income.

Usually if someone does not update their information to renew their coverage, or if someone reports changes that mean they are no longer eligible to receive MaineCare, they will lose their MaineCare coverage. The more flexible rules, referred to as continuous coverage requirement, have meant that most individuals in these situations stay enrolled with MaineCare.

What happens to my MaineCare benefits when continuous coverage rules end?

The federal government will give Maine DHHS’s Office for Family Independence (OFI) one year to check that everyone enrolled in MaineCare still meets the regular eligibility requirements. Starting with May 2023 renewals, OFI will be reaching out to MaineCare members over the following year to check if they are still eligible.

This means your benefits could change.

There are two important steps you need to take:

• Right now: Make sure your contact information is correct. Use My Maine Connection (MyMaineConnection.gov) or call OFI at 1-855-797-4357. See the “How do I update my contact information” section below for detailed instructions.
• If you get a renewal form, fill it out and return it right away. If it's blue it's time to renew! Be on the lookout for the envelope with a blue block which will have the renewal information and instructions. If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text when it is time for your renewal.

Or

• Complete a renewal online at www.mymaineconnection.gov.

You must also return additional information if we ask for it. If we need more information to know if you are still eligible, we will contact you.

If you don’t respond or provide the information we request when we request it, your MaineCare coverage will end. If we need more information to know if you are still eligible, we will contact you. Even if you think you will no longer be eligible, it is important to respond so that you don’t immediately lose your MaineCare for not responding. We can also help you find other health insurance through CoverME.gov.

You might not hear from us right away, as it will take time for us to get in touch with everyone. Make sure your contact information is correct and watch out for the envelope with a blue block in the mail. Remember, if it’s blue it’s time to renew! If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text when it is time for your renewal.

When do the changes to eligibility take effect?

MaineCare redeterminations and normal eligibility requirements will resume May 2023. All members must complete a renewal to see if they are still eligible for MaineCare. We will then send you a notice in an envelope with blue block when it’s time for you to update your information. If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text when it is time for your renewal.

It will take a full year after the end of the PHE for everyone to get their envelope with a blue block, so you may not get one right away. This renewal effort will start in April 2023, when May 2023 renewals are issued, and continue for 12 months.

Make sure your contact information is correct so you can receive your renewal notice. See the “How do I update my contact information” section below for instructions.

What should I do to prepare?

Make sure your contact information is correct. The Office for Family Independence (OFI) must have your current contact information, including address, mobile phone, and email to ensure you get important notices, texts, and emails.

If you moved or changed your contact information and have not updated it with OFI, please contact us to provide your current mailing address, phone number, and email. See the “How do I update my contact information” section below for instructions.

There are three important steps you need to take:

• Right now:  Use My Maine Connection or call OFI at 1-855-797-4357 to make sure your contact information is correct. See the “How do I update my contact information?” section below for detailed instructions.
• Be sure to pay close attention to your mail, email, and text messages.
• When OFI reaches out to you: Complete a renewal form to show that you meet eligibility guidelines in order to continue getting MaineCare coverage.

OFI will send you a letter in an envelope with a blue block when it is time for you to renew. If it’s blue, it’s time to renew! If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text when it is time for your renewal. You must:

• Complete and return the renewal form by mail

Or

• Complete a renewal online at www.mymaineconnection.gov.

Continue to complete renewals and respond to requests from OFI. This will help ensure your case information is always up to date.

You must also return additional information if requested. If OFI needs more information to know if you are still eligible, OFI will contact you.

If you don’t respond or provide the information requested, your MaineCare coverage will end. Even if you think you will no longer be eligible, it is important to respond so that you don’t immediately lose your MaineCare coverage. OFI can also help you explore other health insurance options through resources like CoverME.gov, Maine’s health insurance marketplace.

 

 

 

 

How do I update my contact information?

There are two ways to easily update your household’s contact information:

1. Online at My Maine Connection
   • If you have an account, sign in and select the “Report a Change” button from your dashboard.
     • Select “Change Information for Current Members” and “Continue”
       
     • Select “Contact Information” and follow the prompts to update your address, phone number, or email.
       
   • If you don’t have an account, click the “Sign Up” link to create one. To access all My Maine Connection features, the person who submitted the application for the household will need to create the account. Then follow the “Report a Change” steps above.
2. Contact OFI by phone at 1-855-797-4357.
   • Press 1 to select the Interactive Voice Response option to update your contact information without waiting for a customer service representative. You will need the last 4 digits of your social security number (SSN) and date of birth.
   • Alternatively, you can wait to speak to a customer service representative to update to your address, email, and phone number.

I submitted a change of address with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Why do I need to update my address with OFI?

You must update your address with the Office for Family Independence (OFI) and other State agencies independent of the Postal Service. The USPS does not forward mail from the State of Maine, even if you submitted a change of address with USPS.

If OFI does not have your current contact information, OFI will not be able to reach you to let you know if further information is needed to evaluate your MaineCare eligibility. If OFI does not hear from you, you will lose your MaineCare coverage.

See the “How do I update my contact information” section above for instructions.

When will I get my renewal form?

Renewals will be scheduled within the 12 months starting with May 2023. You might not hear from OFI right away, as it will take time for us to get in touch with all MaineCare members.

OFI will be reaching out to people based on their renewal date, which is listed in the upper right-hand corner of Notices of Decision sent to you by OFI. 

Your renewal form will be sent at least 30 days before your scheduled renewal date. Renewal forms will be sent on the 21st of the month prior to the month it is due. For example, if your renewal is due July 31, 2023, your renewal form will be sent (and available on My Maine Connection) on June 21, 2023. It will come in an envelope with a blue block. If it’s blue it’s time to renew! If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text when it is time for your renewal.

Alternatively, you can create an account at My Maine Connection and use it connect to benefits and to see your current MaineCare eligibility and manage your benefits. To create an account:

1. Click the “Sign Up” link on the My Maine Connection homepage. 
2. Enter the required fields to create an account.
   • If you are currently receiving benefits make sure to select “Yes” to the question about connecting to benefits. This step is necessary to complete your renewal.

When it’s time for you to renew, the “Renew Benefits” button will appear on your dashboard. Click the “Renew Benefits” button to review your case information and submit a renewal.

If you do not see a “Renewal” button, it is not time for you to renew yet.

Additional tutorials on My Maine Connection can be found here.

Will I receive reminders about my renewal?

OFI will mail you a reminder notice at least one month before sending you your renewal form. If you signed up for e-notices, you will get an email or text instructing you to go to mymaineconnection.gov to view your renewal notice.

The notice encourages you to update your contact information if it has changed and includes information about when OFI will send your renewal form and when you must complete and submit it.

OFI will send you your renewal form at least 30 days before your scheduled renewal date. OFI will send the renewal form on the 21st of the month prior to the month it is due. For example, if your renewal is due July 31, 2023, OFI will send your renewal form (and it will be available on My Maine Connection) on June 21, 2023. It will come in an envelope with a blue block. If it’s blue, it’s time to renew!

If you provide OFI with a cell phone number or email address, you may also receive texts or emails to remind you when your renewal is due.

What else do I need to know about my renewal?

Your renewal is important. It can help you avoid gaps in healthcare coverage or delays. Please be sure to:

1. Make sure your contact information is correct. See the “How do I update my contact information” section above for detailed instructions.
2. Get your completed renewal to the Office for Family Independence early. Don’t wait until the last day! If we don’t receive your renewal by the due date, your MaineCare coverage will end.
3. Send or submit proof of income or pre-tax deductions with your renewal.

Documents that show proof of income or pre-tax deductions that OFI may request once we receive your renewal includes:

• Last 4 weeks’ pay stubs, if employed
• Most recent tax return or business records, if self-employed
• Pre-tax deductions, such as student loan interest, IRA deductions, or health savings account deductions

We can accept renewals online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at My Maine Connection.

What happens if I don’t renew my MaineCare?

If you don’t complete your renewal before the due date, your MaineCare coverage will end. The Office for Family Independence will send you a notice at least 15 days before the date coverage is set to end.

I received a notice that my MaineCare stopped because I didn’t complete a renewal. What should I do?

You have 90 days from the date your MaineCare coverage ended to complete your renewal to see if your coverage can continue.

Visit My Maine Connection to complete the renewal as soon as possible to avoid a gap in coverage. You may also call the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 to complete your renewal over the phone, or complete the paper renewal and mail it back to:

• Office for Family Independence
• 114 Corn Shop Lane
• Farmington, ME 04938

If it has been over 90 days, you must submit a new application. See how to apply here.

What if my income is too high to get MaineCare? Is there some place I can get affordable health insurance?

If you are not eligible for MaineCare because your income is too high, you may be able to get help paying for health insurance through CoverME.gov, Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

You should complete your renewal even if you think you may no longer qualify for MaineCare. If the Office for Family Independence determines that you may be eligible for coverage through the Marketplace, your information will be sent to CoverME.gov, and they will reach out to you. You will have 90 days from the date your MaineCare coverage ends to enroll in a health insurance plan at CoverME.gov.

Who can I call if I need help with a renewal or have questions?

If you have questions or require additional help, we encourage you to reach out to Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC), a non-profit committed to helping all Maine people obtain quality, affordable health care. DHHS is partnering with CAHC and other Community Based Organizations to inform Maine residents about the end of the continuous coverage requirement, what it means, and what you can do to prepare. 

Consumers for Affordable Health Care Assistance Helpline: 1-800-965-7476

Need extra assistance?

If you have questions or require additional help, we encourage you to reach out to Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC), a non-profit committed to helping all Maine people obtain quality, affordable health care. DHHS is partnering with CAHC and other Community Based Organizations to inform Maine residents about the end of the the continuous coverage requirement, what it means, and what you can do to prepare. 

Consumers for Affordable Health Care Assistance Helpline: 1-800-965-7476