Arkansas is currently leading the nation in Medicaid disenrollments, and UCA students are facing financial hardship as agencies continue removing beneficiaries after the federal government ended special pandemic eligibility rules. 

More than 72,000 Arkansans lost Medicaid — government health coverage for low-income adults, children, elderly people and people with disabilities — in August due to ineligibility, failure to update information or return the renewal form, according to the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

In July, 82,279 beneficiaries were disenrolled; around 27,000 were children.

The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended May 11, and the states resumed regular Medicaid eligibility rules April 1.

The Arkansas Times reported that no state has removed as many people from the program as fast as Arkansas.

DHS must examine the state’s Medicaid programs and remove ineligible recipients within six months under Act 780, passed in 2021, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Junior film major Emily England lost Medicaid Aug. 1 because her father no longer met the requirements. 

Her mother broke the news to her, which her family received as a letter in the mail. 

“I haven’t been able to have my monthly psychiatrist appointments, I have to pay for my medication, I haven’t been able to go to the doctor or the dentist,” England said. “I got into a car accident that totaled my car, and I had to go to the ER the month I lost my insurance.”

England said she looked for another insurance plan but couldn’t find an affordable one.

“The monthly premiums are way too expensive for me,” she said. “I’m a full-time student with a part-time job. I cannot afford rent, groceries, gas and a $300-a-month premium.”

England tried to apply for Medicaid three separate times, each to no avail. 

“The first time, I didn’t meet the due date. The second time, I got an extension because that’s when I had my car wreck, and I still ended up missing the deadline,” England said. “This third time, it’s taken them a whole month just to get my submission processed. It’s been slow and tedious, and there is so much paperwork you have to provide to prove every little detail you tell them is the truth.”

For England, whatever can help her and other Arkansans receive coverage again has her stamp of approval. 

“Anything that will help me get covered again, I approve of. Anything that will allow more Arkansans to get covered, I approve of,” England said. “Health care should be a human right, people shouldn’t have to pay a whole car payment just so they can be healthy and go to the doctor.”

DHS’ Chief Communications and Communications Engagement Officer Gavin Lesnik outlined its six-month campaign to redetermine eligibility for Medicaid beneficiaries.

“DHS sends multiple notices by mail anytime a renewal is due or if changes result in a person no longer being eligible for coverage,” Lesnik said. “Notices are mailed and also are available through the Access Arkansas eligibility portal.”

Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services set eligibility rules.

“Emails, texts, electronic alerts in Access Arkansas, and phone calls are also being used to reach beneficiaries about these Medicaid redeterminations,” he said.

Lesnik confirmed DHS used other databases to get more updated contact information for people enrolled, including the National Change of Address, to find updated addresses.

“DHS also received approval to accept verified beneficiary addresses from managed care organizations and launched the Update Arkansas campaign more than a year prior to the end of the PHE,” Lesnik said.

The campaign comprised “a call center that updated or confirmed contact information for more than 140,000 beneficiaries as well as organic, earned and paid media.” 

DHS also campaigned with social media, radio advertising and digital messaging in medical and state offices to encourage people to update their contact information.

Medicaid beneficiaries are mailed a renewal notice 90 or 120 days before it is due, and reminders are mailed 45 or 60 days before the deadline. 

“If beneficiaries do not respond or if they provide information confirming they are no longer eligible, they are also mailed a closure notice with the date their coverage will end,” he said.

Lesnik said some individuals will return their renewal packet and confirm they are no longer eligible, whereas others may simply not return it because they are “aware that their case will close due to their change in circumstances.”

“A closure because a beneficiary did not respond does not mean that the packet was not received or that the beneficiary was unaware of this process,” Lesnik said. “In fact, extensive efforts have been made — and are continuing to be made — to ensure that Medicaid recipients know what to expect.”

To apply online for benefits, visit access.arkansas.gov, and to determine eligibility, go to benefits.gov.

You can also call 1-800-482-8988 or visit a DHS office in your county.