HJBR Jul/Aug 2023

48 JUL / AUG 2023 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE COLUMN MEDICAID This Act extended eligibility for ACA health insurance subsidies and increased the amount of financial assistance for people with lower incomes who were already el- igible under the ACA. In 2022, with strong support fromPresident Biden, the Inflation ReductionAct was passed, which extended subsidies through the end of 2025. As a re- sult of ACA legislation, there have been sig- nificant reductions in the uninsured across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported in 2022 that the number of Americans without some form of health insurance coverage was at an all-time low of 8%. Estimates predict that as many as 300,000 people in Louisiana will no longer be eligible for Medicaid, and it is anticipat- ed that the majority of themwill be eligible for either employer-sponsored insurance or a subsidized plan through the Health In- surance Marketplace. Ensuring those who will lose their Medicaid coverage during redetermination are informed about their options is an important step in helping prevent gaps in coverage. Marketplace Subsidies and Resources There are two kinds of financial assis- tance available to marketplace enrollees who qualify: premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions . The premium tax credit THE END of continuous enrollment and the long-anticipated return to Medicaid eligibility redeterminations and renewals — known as the “Medicaid unwinding” — has arrived. Begun in April and continuing over the next year before returning to an ongoing renewal process, redetermination launched by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) will be notifying roughly 8.33% of all Healthy Louisiana Medicaid recipients each month (approximately 169,048 individuals) by mail of their im- pending renewal date. Along with all the other states’ Medicaid recipients, Louisi- ana enrollees face potential hurdles. Many who are still eligible for Medicaid may lose their coverage and become uninsured or experience a gap in coverage. It’s critical for current Medicaid enrollees to be aware of the processes that are occurring and what actions they may need to take. First, current enrollees must know and understand they need to complete a renew- al . Some may have moved during the pandemic, and, if they have not updated their mailing address or other contact in- formation with LDH, they may not receive important communications from LDH informing them that their renewal is re- quired. In addition, because LDH conduct- ed a Medicaid Open Enrollment period between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year, recipients who do receive their renewal letter in the initial months may disregard it, thinking they’ve recently taken care of their Medicaid paperwork needs. Second, recipients must be able to com- plete their renewal . Forms and paperwork can be daunting and confusing for many to complete. Fortunately, in Louisiana, en- rollees may complete their renewal online or over the phone or with the assistance of a “Medicaid Trusted User,” formerly Appli- cation Center Representative. Affordable Coverage Options through the Affordable Care Act For those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid and who seek affordable health- care coverage, the Health Insurance Mar- ketplace is a potential option. The Market- place was created from theAffordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 and enables individuals to shop, compare, and purchase health insurance. Additionally, the ACA provides subsidies for low- and middle-income in- dividuals and families so they can afford coverage. ACA health plans are required to offer all essential health benefits such as hospital care, outpatient, and emergency services, as well as prescription drug cov- erage to name a few. In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act passed, which further strengthened the Marketplace as a viable coverage option. REDETERMINATION: Coverage Beyond Medicaid