Frequently Asked Questions about Medicaid Renewals
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What is an annual renewal?
An annual renewal is the process that the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) uses in order to make sure that recipients are still eligible for Medicaid. When the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was declared in March of 2020, Medicaid renewals were suspended. This suspension ended in April of 2023. Alaska, along with all other states, restarted its regular renewal process for every Medicaid recipient. In Alaska, renewals will be completed in monthly batches over an 18-month period.
What if I lose my coverage?
DPA is committed to making sure that everyone who is eligible for Medicaid keeps their coverage. If you received a renewal form in the mail and didn’t return it to DPA by the due date and lost your Medicaid coverage, you have 180 days from the date of closure to send in your renewal form. If received, we will redetermine your Medicaid eligibility back to the date of closure.
We expect that some Alaskans will no longer qualify for Medicaid and will need to switch to other insurance options in order to stay covered. Those who are no longer eligible will be given clear information about applying for coverage through healthcare.gov.
After the full renewal process is complete, if you no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage, you will receive:
- Notice explaining when your Medicaid coverage will end
- Information about how to appeal if you disagree with the decision
- Information about applying for coverage on HealthCare.Gov and possible subsidies
What can I do to be ready?
Recipients should update their contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email address) with our self-help Medicaid Information Update Form any time or by calling our Medicaid Information Update Hotline at 833-441-1870 during normal business hours, M-F, 8am-5pm. This is especially important if you have moved in the past three years, or your phone number has changed.
You should also check your mail regularly for important information about your Medicaid coverage. Some recipients will need to take action by filling out and returning renewal forms sent through the mail.
How will I know when it is my turn to renew?
If you do not receive a notification during the first few months of this period, do not be alarmed – just make sure your contact information is up-to-date and wait for your renewal notification in the mail. Your renewal process will occur sometime between April 2023 and September 2024. Typically, your annual renewal will occur around the anniversary of when your coverage began. For example, if you were originally approved for Medicaid in June, your annual renewal may be around that time.
How does the renewal process work?
During the renewal process, we will attempt to automatically renew recipients using information from available electronic data sources. If you are automatically renewed, you will receive a notice in the mail with information about your renewed coverage.
If we can’t automatically renew your Medicaid, we may need to reach out to get more information to determine your eligibility, such as pay stubs, tax returns, or other financial information. If you need to complete a renewal form, you will receive one in the mail along with a notice explaining that you must return the completed form to DPA by the 5th of the next month. If you do not fill out the form and return it on time, you are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage.
If you are determined to be ineligible for Medicaid during the renewal process, you will receive a notice in the mail at least ten days before your coverage ends. This notice will include information about appealing if you disagree with the eligibility decision and about applying for coverage through healthcare.gov.
No matter which Medicaid renewal form was mailed to your household, you can complete and return the 
Eligibility Review Form (GEN 72). This form can be found online or you can pick one up at any DPA office.
Once completed, you can return it by email: hss.dpa.offices@alaska.gov; by fax: 888-269-6520 or drop it off in-person at any DPA location.
Will I lose my Medicaid coverage during the renewal process?
Medicaid coverage continues while a recipient is under review. If you are determined to be ineligible for Medicaid, you will receive a notice in the mail at least ten days before coverage ends. This notice will include information about appealing if you disagree with the eligibility determination and applying for coverage through healthcare.gov.
What are other health care coverage options?
Alaskans who no longer qualify for Medicaid may have other health care coverage options through a health plan at work or through HealthCare.Gov If your Medicaid coverage ends, you will qualify for a special enrollment period that allows you to purchase health insurance outside of open enrollment.
All plans offered on HealthCare.Gov are comprehensive. Visit HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 800-318-2596 (TTY: 855-889-4325) to get details about Marketplace coverage.
You can find assistance through a navigator or insurance agent by choosing “find local help” on HealthCare.gov or by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-478-2221.
Long Term Care FAQs
People who receive long term care usually have a care coordinator and an assigned caseworker at DPA.
We submitted a Medicaid renewal form, and coverage ended. What do we do?
- If your renewal was received before the 5th of the month in which it was due, it is considered timely and should have been worked. You may follow up with your assigned caseworker.
- If your renewal form was received after the 5th of the month but before the effective date of closure, your Medicaid eligibility will be reviewed. There may be a delay due to the late receipt of the renewal form.
- If your renewal form was received after your case closed but within the 180-day reconsideration period, the division will schedule it for processing within 45 days of receipt.
My Medicaid case closed because I didn’t get the renewal packet or information that was requested back to the office in time, what do I do now?
Return the renewal packet or the information that was requested as soon as possible. If returned to the office within 180 days, that is all you will need to do for DPA to redetermine your Medicaid eligibility.
If my case closed, but the division received my renewal within the 180-day reconsideration period, how will I know if services will be covered, and claims paid?
Once reviewed, the division will send you a notice explaining the determination of eligibility including any lapses in coverage, if any. Providers should resubmit claims and the Division of Healthcare Services will determine whether they are covered.
Can my renewal be prioritized because of an emergent medical need?
Yes, if the renewal includes a request based on an emergent medical need and if it meets criteria by other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, or the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services to warrant expedited service (i.e., people who have a terminal condition). The division cannot expedite a disability determination since this is handled by another agency.
I did not receive a renewal notice, but think one is due.
Please ensure your mailing address is up-to-date, and you have valid releases of information (GEN 58) on file for all people who need information about your case. You can also request that they receive copies of the eligibility notices that are sent to you.
My Medicaid case was closed due to being over income and/or resources and now my situation has changed, do I resubmit my renewal packet?
No. Because the closure occurred correctly, you will need to provide a new application and verification.
My disability determination needs to be renewed but we didn’t get the information back before the case was closed. Can I still receive Medicaid until the determination has been made?
Since the case was closed, the case must remain closed until we can determine eligibility. If we received the information before the case was closed, we would have let the case remain open until the eligibility determination was made. It is very important to respond to our request for information/verification.