Starting in the spring of 2023, millions of older adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid will face redeterminations of their Medicaid eligibility, a process that had been suspended during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Emergency flexibilities in delivery of Medicaid services will also begin to expire. This process will present significant challenges for states and for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, who, compared to Medicare-only enrollees, have higher rates of disability and require more assistance with activities of daily living, experience higher rates of poverty leading to housing instability, and often need communication accommodations due to disability or limited English proficiency.
Advocates can play a crucial role in ensuring people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid do not face disruptions in care due to improper Medicaid terminations. A new fact sheet, Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Coverage Protections: Implications and Advocacy for Individuals Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, provides information about the “unwinding” process and identifies steps that advocates can take with their states and partners to address the specific challenges facing dual eligible individuals during this transition.
