If you have been approved for a Medicaid program for you and/or
a family member, it is important to update your local Medicaid office (known as
Family and Social Services Administration [FSSA] in Indiana) when you have major
changes in your life. The same applies if you have purchased a health insurance
plan through The Marketplace. I realize that this can be difficult. When you are moving, changing jobs, or bringing
a new child into your life, notifying the FSSA office or Marketplace may be the
last thing on your mind. However, it’s
important to remember that your health insurance coverage can depend upon
reporting these changes quickly and effectively. Here are a few examples of major life
changes:
•Get married or divorced
•Have a child, adopt a child, or place a child for adoption
•Have a change in income/get a new job
•Get health coverage through a job
•Change your place of residence
•Have a change in disability status
•Gain or lose a dependent
•Become pregnant
•Experience other changes that may affect your income and household
size
•Other changes to report: change in tax filing status; change of
citizenship or immigration status; incarceration or release from incarceration;
change in status as an American Indian/Alaska Native or tribal status;
correction to name, date of birth, or Social Security number.
If you fail to report these changes FSSA you can risk losing Medicaid coverage. If you fail to report changes to The
Marketplace, you risk higher tax fines when you file your taxes at the end of
the year. Reporting these changes is
quick and easy to do, just follow these steps:
For The Marketplace, you can report these changes 2 ways:
•Online – Log in to your
account at www.healthcare.gov. Select your application, then select “Report
a life change” from the menu on the left.
•By phone – Contact the
Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)
For Medicaid Programs (in Indiana these programs include HIP, Hoosier
Healthwise, and Medicaid Disability):
•Phone – call
1-800-403-0864. Follow the prompts and
let the FSSA representative know that you have a life change you would like to
report. She will instruct you what to do
next and explain what steps you will need to take to verify information
If you receive paperwork from The Marketplace or from FSSA, make sure
you respond to the letters as quickly as possible. More than likely, they are requesting
information to verify something you have said (i.e. your income, your address,
number of people living with you, assets you may have, etc.). There is often a deadline you have to meet
and if you surpass that deadline, you may risk losing coverage. As always, if you have a question you should
call the phone number listed on your letter.
Life is always changing. One
thing that does not change is the fact that you and your family need dependable
health insurance. There are Navigators
all over the United States who are willing and able to help you find the health
insurance coverage that best suits your needs—no matter what life may throw at
you. You can find a list of Navigators
in your area by going to https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/. If you live in Indiana and you think you may
qualify for a Medicaid program, you can call 1-800-403-0864. They can direct you to
your local FSSA office (there’s one in every county) or answer your questions
directly.
