What to Do If Your Medicaid Was Cut Off or You Got a Redetermination Letter

Jul 3

3 min read

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Lost your Medicaid coverage or received a redetermination letter? Don’t panic — you may qualify for a $0 ACA health plan. Learn what to do next to stay covered.

Got a Letter Saying Your Medicaid Was Ending?

You're not alone — and you're not without options.

Millions of people across the country are receiving redetermination letters or finding out that their Medicaid has been terminated.This process is known as Medicaid unwinding, and it's affecting children, seniors, and working families who were previously covered during the pandemic.

But here’s the good news:

If you lost Medicaid, you may now qualify for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan — often for $0/month.

Let’s walk through what to do next.

🧾 Why Is Medicaid Coverage Being Cut?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, states were required to keep people continuously enrolled in Medicaid — even if their income increased or they didn’t renew paperwork.

But in 2023 and 2024, that rule ended. Now states are reviewing every Medicaid enrollee's eligibility — and removing people who:

Miss paperwork deadlines
Had income changes
No longer meet the guidelines

You may not have done anything wrong — but the system is purging automatically.

🛑 What NOT to Do: Ignore the Letter

If you received a redetermination letter or notice of termination, you have a limited time to act.

Don’t assume:

“I’ll figure it out later”
“This must be a mistake”
“I’ll just go without for now”

✅ What You Should Do Right Now

Here’s what to do step-by-step:

📩 1. Don’t Ignore the Letter — Open It Immediately

Medicaid letters are often time-sensitive. It could be about:

Renewal (redetermination)
Request for more information
Loss or denial of coverage
Transition to another program

Waiting too long could mean automatic loss of coverage.

🕵️ 2. Read the Entire Letter Carefully

Look for:

The reason they’re contacting you
Any missing or required documents
Deadlines to respond (usually 10–30 days)
Appeal or response instructions.
Take note of any case number or reference ID.

📎 3. Gather and Submit Any Required Documents

They may ask for:

Proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns)
Proof of residency or citizenship
Updated household info

Submit everything by the deadline — and keep a copy of what you send.

📞 4. Call Medicaid or go to a local office Immediately if You Have Questions

Use the number listed on the letter or call the national number 800-772-1213. Be prepared to:

Wait or schedule a call back
Verify your identity
Ask what’s needed to keep coverage
Request more time if necessary
Confirm they received your paperwork (if already sent)
The best time to get in touch with them is early in the morning or at the end of the month

If you cannot get your Medicaid back, you have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to switch to an ACA plan, typically 60 days from the date you lost Medicaid.

Estimate Your Current Income

Even if you didn’t qualify before, you may now qualify for:

$0/month premiums
Silver plans with reduced deductibles
Full ACA coverage with preventive care, prescriptions, and more. Talk to a Licensed Agent (That’s Me)

I’ll: