MassHealth's May 2021 Changes to its COVID Continuous Coverage Protections

Attached is a memo written by MLRI explaining MassHealth's guidance issued on May 4, 2021 describing certain changes in the continuous coverage protections in place during the federal public health emergency including advocacy that may be needed to protect some people from losing access to benefits under new policy  The MassHealth Guidance and a template for the protection notices referred to in the memo are posted here. https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/masshealth-renewalsrfis-and-continuous-coverage-during-federal-public-health-emergency

The protection from loss of coverage will remain in place during the federal public health emergency which is expected to continue throughout 2021. Most people will not experience any change in benefits. For those who are notified of a change in beneifts under the new policy, in most cases, advocates can help people to retain full access to the benefits they need.

July 6, 2021 Update: MassHealth further modified the COVID protection to allow dually eligible individuals no longer eligible for their current coverage but eligible for a Medicare Savings Program to lose all but their MSP coverage.. Members who do not return renewal forms or respond to  requests for information and duals who are no longer eligible for any coverage remain protected in their current coverage.  See our COVID Changes Table for relevant citations. 

Sept 2021 Update: MassHealth describes its policy for changing coverage within "tiers" in Eligibility Operations Memo 21-14 (Sept 2021)

Please let us know if you see any of these downgrade cases: vpulos@mlri.org or ksymmonds@mlri.org.