During the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana Medicaid wasn’t processing renewals. Montanans on Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids didn’t have to worry about providing updated information to the Office of Public Assistance to keep their health care coverage. Now, Montana Medicaid has started to process renewals and will be reaching out to enrollees through the mail. Between April 2023 and January 2024, all 320,000 Montanans enrolled in Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids will go through a renewal process to make sure they still qualify for health coverage. Each month, a new group will start the process. Here are the three steps in the renewal process and important reminders at each step.

Quick Help Guides

Renewal Timeline Overview

Step 1: I am preparing to renew my Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids

If you are still waiting to go through the renewal process, here are a few things you can do to prepare.

• Update your contact information: You won’t get a renewal packet unless the Office of Public Assistance has your current contact info. The first step is to update you contact information here.
  
• Create an account on www.apply.mt.gov, Montanan’s application portal. On apply.mt.gov, you can see the month when your case will be renewed, sign up to get email copies of future notices so you don’t have to wait for mail, and can eventually complete your renewal online. Cover Montana has step-by-step instructions that walk you through the process.
  
• If your renewal process has not begun, your Medicaid benefits should still be active, and you can continue to seek medical care as needed.

Step 2: I have received my renewal packet

Complete your renewal as quickly possible, don’t delay! There are several ways to complete this process, do the one that is easiest for you.

• Complete your renewal online at www.apply.mt.gov.
  
  • You’ll need to login or create an account and link it to your case number (your case number is listed on the first page of your renewal letter in the top right). Cover Montana has step-by-step instructions that walk you through the process.
    
  • If you do it online, you can see that you have submitted your renewal request and can also receive notifications and upload documents if DPHHS requests more information.
    
• Complete your paper renewal packet
  
  • Drop it off at a local Office of Public Assistance (OPA). Not sure if you have one close by? Here are all the OPA locations.
    
  • Mail it back to the Montana department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) at the following address: DPHHS, PO Box 202925 Helena, MT 59620-2925. Don’t forget, you’ll need an envelope and two first class stamps! Your packet needs to be received by the 10th day of the month your redetermination is due in order to be processed by the end of the month.
    
  • Fax it back to the Office of Public Assistance: Fax: 1-877-418-4533
    
• Complete your renewal over the phone
  
  • You can call the Public Assistance Helpline to complete your renewal by calling 1-888-706-1535 and navigating through the Medicaid options. If you choose to call, you will likely have to wait on hold or schedule a callback, so be prepared for that.

Step 3: I have received a notice that I am no longer eligible for Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids

• If you lose Medicaid because you didn’t complete your renewal (and you think you’re still eligible) you need to fill out a new application. You can get assistance with this application from Cover Montana Navigators via our helpline at 844-682-6837 or from one of our in-person Navigators.
  
• If you lose Medicaid coverage because you are eligible for Medicare, you’ll need to enroll in Medicare. Cover Montana doesn’t help with Medicare enrollments, but Montana SHIP counselors can help. To find the closest SHIP counselor, call 1-800-551-3191. Don’t delay, you only have a limited time to enroll.
  
• If you lose Medicaid because you no longer qualify, you may be able to get coverage through your employer or the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov.
  
  • Employer-sponsored coverage: If you have an offer of coverage through your employer, or the employer of a family member, you can get a Special Enrollment Period if you lose Medicaid. This means that you’ll be able to enroll, even if it is outside of your employer’s annual enrollment period. Click here for more information.
    
  • Coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov: If you don’t have an offer of coverage through an employer, or that coverage is not considered affordable, you may be able to enroll in a Marketplace plan. Most Montanans enrolled in the Marketplace also qualify for tax credits to help make their monthly premium more affordable.
    
  • You can get assistance with enrolling in these options from Cover Montana via our helpline at 844-682-6837 or find local help.

Looking for resources? 

If you are an organization or clinic looking for more information and tool to help spread the word changes to Medicaid and HMK, Cover Montana can help! Find resources at the Montana Primary Care Association website, or email Cover Montana at info@covermt.org.