Nevada Health Link extends special enrollment period for Medicaid-ineligible, launches SMS Text campaign to boost awareness
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 7:05am
CARSON CITY — In response to the ongoing Medicaid eligibility redetermination process that resumed in April 2023, Nevada Health Link is extending the Special Enrollment Period through November 30, 2024, for those who no longer qualify for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
This initiative aligns with similar adjustments made by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and HealthCare.gov, and aims to support any Nevadan who was deemed ineligible for Medicaid benefits since Medicaid began its redetermination process following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible Nevadans can enroll even if they lost their Medicaid benefits more than sixty days prior, and NevadaHealthLink.com is the only place where consumers can qualify for financial assistance to help offset the cost of premiums.
In tandem with the extension of its Special Enrollment Period, Nevada Health Link is rolling out an SMS texting initiative designed to reach and engage Nevadans who no longer qualify for Medicaid/CHIP. The primary goal of this outreach strategy is to enhance awareness of continued NevadaHealthLink.com eligibility by providing simple instructions and links to enrollment assistance in a convenient format.
“Our new SMS texting initiative is a direct-to-consumer approach to connect with Nevadans who’ve lost their Medicaid coverage, and to simplify the process of securing affordable and high-quality health insurance,” said Russell Cook, Executive Director of Nevada Health Link. “We are committed to helping our community understand their options and enroll in a plan that meets their needs and budget, and we believe we’ll be able to effectively reach over 80,000 Nevadans through this campaign.”
Since Nevada Medicaid began redetermining eligibility in April 2023, only about 4% of Nevadans who were deemed ineligible for Medicaid benefits have enrolled in a plan through NevadaHealthLink.com. While there are several factors that may have impacted engagement levels, such as the availability of coverage through other sources like an employer or family member, Nevada Health Link is committed to continuing its outreach to ensure Nevadans are being met exactly where they are and to make the enrollment process as convenient as possible.
“One challenge we are seeing among individuals who have recently lost Medicaid is that they may not have a current mailing address on file with Medicaid, so they might not have received their Medicaid termination letter, and therefore might not be aware that their coverage has ended,” Cook continued. “This campaign is meant to bolster existing communications efforts from the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) by informing individuals who have lost their Medicaid coverage, including those who lost their coverage last year, that they’re still eligible to enroll through NevadaHealthLink.com. We want these Nevadans to know that Nevada Health Link is their best option for affordable coverage, and we have a call center and a statewide team of enrollment professionals ready to help them get the coverage they need.”
Nevada Health Link will only be reaching out via its SMS texting initiative to those households whose information was received as part of their account transfer process from Medicaid. All Nevada Health Link texts can be distinguished by knowing Nevada Health Link will attach an image to each text with the Nevada health logo and the Nevada State Seal.
The extension of this temporary Special Enrollment Period provides a critical opportunity for individuals and families affected by the Medicaid redetermination process to secure affordable, qualified health insurance without waiting for the annual Open Enrollment Period in November.
Nevadans who have lost Medicaid coverage are urged to contact Nevada Health Link for enrollment support. Assistance is available online, over the phone, or in person through a network of trained professionals, including brokers and navigators and most recently, an AI Chatbot that has been implemented onto the Nevada Health Link website. For more information about Nevada Health Link, visit NevadaHealthLink.com here or call 1-800-547-2927. The Nevada Health Link Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
