El Departamento de Servicios Sociales de Missouri prevé que unos 200,000 ciudadanos perderán sus prestaciones de Medicaid el próximo año. Esto se debe a que sus ingresos han aumentado lo suficiente como para dejar de cumplir los requisitos.

Mientras la emergencia de salud pública estaba vigente, los estados no podían eliminar a nadie de sus listas de Medicaid. Pero ahora que ha comenzado el "revertir", el departamento de Medicaid está reanudando las renovaciones anuales.

Kim Evans, anima a todos a asegurarse de que D-S-S tiene su información de contacto actual para que no se pasen por alto importantes formularios y solicitudes de información. Pueden hacerlo de varias maneras.

"Los individuos pueden ir en línea y reportar en mydss.mo.gov, nos pueden enviar un fax, o pueden escanear," dice Evans. "En nuestro sitio web tenemos un chat en vivo, y pueden reportarnos de esta manera también."

Evans señala que también hay un centro de recursos D-S-S en cada condado para aquellos que deseen ayuda en persona. Explica que las renovaciones se tramitarán el mes en que la persona cumplió con los requisitos inicialmente, a partir de junio. La primera ronda de formularios de renovación anual se enviará la primer semana de mayo y debe devolverse antes del 30 de junio.

Evans señala que hay dos circunstancias que pueden hacer que una persona reciba uno de estos formularios.

"Si no podemos verificar la información de la persona, o la información que recibimos es totalmente inelegible para Medicaid, le enviaremos un formulario de renovación anual," informa Evans.

Subraya que si no devuelven el formulario a tiempo, corren el riesgo de que se interrumpa la cobertura. Después de la fecha de vencimiento, tienen 90 días para presentar su información para que su caso sea reabierto.

Evans agrega que el Estado abrirá un nuevo portal para el cliente a principios de mayo, donde se colocarán todos los formularios y avisos futuros. Ella anima a inscribirse una vez que esté disponible.

"Así que podrán acceder a este formulario mismo que podrán revisar y hacer cambios," dice Evans. "Luego podrán enviarlo directamente a la agencia. Esa es realmente la forma en que queremos que todos completen sus formularios, porque eso llena el sistema."

Los que ya no reúnan los requisitos para Medicaid serán remitidos al Mercado para buscar un plan de seguro que les convenga.


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A new report showed more than 100,000 eligible Virginians 65 and older are not enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

With senior participation rates at just 37.4%, advocates are calling for urgent action, particularly during Hunger Action Month.

Cassie Edner, public benefits attorney and director of Virginia Hunger Solutions at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, explained several factors contribute to the low enrollment, according to the report by the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute. She noted a general lack of awareness and the complexity of applying for benefits in the Commonwealth may be key barriers for many, regardless of eligibility.

"It just could be too low," Edner acknowledged. "We often hear of people that say, hey, this isn't worth going through the hoops that we have to go through in order to receive just $23 per month."

Despite progress made with programs such as the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which streamlines the process for seniors without earned income, Edner emphasized more must be done to reach the most vulnerable populations. The Virginia Food Access Coalition and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks are partnering with the coalition to urge legislators to reduce administrative barriers to SNAP participation.

Edner and other advocates are urging policymakers to raise the minimum SNAP benefit for seniors to $50 per month and simplify the application process. In the meantime, the center operates a hotline to assist seniors in navigating the benefits process. She said many seniors are unaware of deductions to help increase their minimum benefit.

"You just need more than $35 in medical expenses for seniors and individuals with disability to get a $200 deduction for medical expenses, and we often see this not used often," Edner observed. "In some of the state, it may be difficult to receive information about SNAP."

Edner suggested mailing issues could be a factor, as the report shows the lowest SNAP enrollment rates are in Southeast and Northern Virginia, with fewer than one in four eligible seniors receiving benefits in York County and Poquoson City.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Household Food Security Report revealed 13.5% of U.S. households, 18 million in total, experienced food insecurity last year. In Virginia, 10% of the population faced food insecurity between 2021 and 2023.

Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state who qualify, only 39% are enrolled.

Groups likely to be uninsured include young adults and American Indian young adults. About half of those who are uninsured now qualify for Medicaid benefits.

Xanna Burg, director of South Dakota Kids Count, said low enrollment rates are, in part, due to timing. She explained the expansion was rolling out just as states were ending the federal requirement which kept everyone on Medicaid covered during the pandemic.

"I think having those happen in tandem hurt the ability to really do this significant outreach to eligible populations," Burg observed. "Because you're trying to deliver one message saying, 'We've expanded eligibility,' and then there's this other message that's saying, 'You need to, like, re-enroll.'"

Matt Althoff, secretary of social services, has said some people who were disenrolled are making more income and no longer qualify and this should be celebrated. The expansion actually increased the income level for households to qualify, from just over $14,000 a year for a family of four, to about $43,000.

Burg noted one challenge for enrollment is, the information helping to determine eligibility is housed under different programs in the state. She argued more communication could boost the numbers.

"Thinking about where programs can talk to each other, whether it's through SNAP or WIC or the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program," Burg suggested. "Working across agencies to really identify these populations that might be eligible."

State officials said it could take up to two years to reach full enrollment.

Members of the U.S. House Work and Welfare Subcommittee came to Illinois this month to drum up support for work requirements for anyone seeking public assistance.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, held a field hearing on what they called the "Dignity of Work," stressing the importance of employment as a solution to lift people out of poverty.

Nearly 12% of Illinois residents live below the federal poverty line - LaHood said at the hearing that teamwork is needed to help more of them find jobs.

"Whether it's through churches, nonprofits, private foundations or government programs," said LaHood, "when providing relief and assistance to those in need, we should be exploring every possibility to promote work as the surest pathway out of poverty."

But the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities points out that most working-age adults who receive assistance like Medicaid or SNAP are already working - their jobs don't pay enough to meet basic household expenses.

Others are dealing with child care or elder care, have health issues, or are between jobs and need assistance only temporarily.

Testimony at the hearing included multiple examples of people who were able to become self-sustaining with help from the federal programs.

Kristy Schofield, now the director of Homeless and Housing at Dream Center Peoria, said she was a single mother of two and living in her car before reaching out for help.

She said these programs are a godsend for someone who has lost hope.

"These programs give our guests an opportunity to work - and with that, accomplish and achieve," said Schofield, "thereby gaining that self-esteem and belief in themselves, and lowering the chance that they will live in poverty."

Congressman LaHood said, "Tying federal benefits to the expectation of work is not a punishment."

He cited an Axios-Ipsos poll out last year that found growing support for making people look for work if they want public assistance - including 80% of Republicans, 66% of Independents, and 49% of Democrats.