FOR SPORTS, THEY CAN DROP OFF AT CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

>> PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE HEALTHCARE THROUGH MEDICAID ARE AT RISK OF LOSING COVERAGE.

THAT IS BECAUSE EMERGENCY MEASURES ARE INSURED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T LOSE YOUR HEALTHCARE.

NOW THEY ARE BEING PHASED OUT.

THAT PUTS NEARLY 700,000 PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS AT RISK OF LOSING COVERAGE.

AND A FEDERAL REPORT FINDS IT 4.6 MILLION LATINOS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE LIKELY TO LOSE MEDICAID, DESPITE MANY STILL BEING ELIGIBLE.

RECENTLY, BECAUSE OF ISSUES NAVIGATING THE PROCESS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS DR. GERALDINE LUNA, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HEALTH POLICY AT THE ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS.

AND THE CEO OF FOLSOM COUNTY HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LET'S OFFER SOME CONTEXT HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH MEDICAID AND WHY ARE WE SEEING THE CHANGES NOW?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT DURING THIS PAST THREE YEARS, MEDICAID INCLUDED FLEXIBILITY AND EXTENSIONS THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT DO JUST TO ENSURE THAT A HUGE POPULATION OR THE MAJORITY WOULD BE COVERED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BY THAT, WE ARE MEANING THAT IT WAS THE CRITERIA FOR SNAP FOR EXAMPLE, AND FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO BE COVERED BY BENEFITS.

THAT IS ENDING NOW BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE END OF THE TRANSITION OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE EMERGENCY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED TO COVID-19.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE OLD STANDARDS OF REDETERMINATION, RECERTIFICATION OF MEDICAID.

>> AND THAT DATE IS?

>> MA Y 11th.

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> WHEN WE SAY MEDICAID , WHAT CAN THAT INCLUDE?

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT FALL UNDER MEDICAID.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE, EDUCATE AND INFORM THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE THE ALL CAPS PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN WHO MAY BE JUST HAD A BABY.

THEY ARE UNDER THE MOM AND BABY PROGRAM.

THE NEW MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR HEALTH AND GRANTS OR SENIORS OR HEALTH IMMIGRANT ADULTS WHICH GIVES THE AID.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT FALL UNDER MEDICAID.

AS DR. LUNA MENTIONED, THEY WILL ALL HAVE TO BE RECERTIFIED AFTER MAY.

>> HOW WILL THE PROCESS OF CHECKING FOR MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY WORTH?

>> IT WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

SOME PEOPLE, IT MAY BE AUTOMATIC.

SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT A TRADITIONAL JOB, THEY WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY REPORTED TO THE STATE AND THE MEDICAID AGENCY TO MAKE SURE THE NOTICE GETS TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE CHECK FOR MEDICAID TO RESUME?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONTACT THE STATE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ADDRESS IS UPDATED.

AS WE SAID, WE HAVE HAD MANY CHANGES.

IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS.

IN THOSE THREE YEARS, WE HAVE MADE ADDRESS CHANGES OR CHANGES IN THE FAMILY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO TO THE STATE.

THE NUMBERS 800-843-6154.

THEY CAN CALL AND THERE ARE ELECTRONIC AREAS THEY CAN GO TO UPDATE INFORMATION.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT IT'S NOT THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET NOTIFIED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IT WILL BE ONE 12th OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION.

EVERY MONTH, A NEW GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GETTING NOTIFIED.

YOU WILL GET 60 DAYS BEFORE.

AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE YOUR ADDRESS IS UPDATED, CHECK YOUR MAIL AND HAVE THE INFORMATION AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO THE STATE AND WE ALSO HAVE A HOTLINE AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH 3- -- 312-864-2224.

OR COME IN AT ANY POINT TO ANY OF THE LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE COUNSELORS WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT, IF YOU LOSE COVERAGE, WE HAVE THIS.

>> ON WHAT GROUNDS MIGHT THERE BE COVERAGE?

>> THERE ARE ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE OR MORE ON MEDICAID AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

ABOUT 2.9 MILLION.

SO THAT A MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.

THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT SAY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300000-700,000 OF THAT MILLION WILL LOSE COVERAGE.

AND YOU NOW EARN MORE AS YOU HAVE NEW JOBS OR NEW SERVICES.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD, THAT COULD MAKE YOU INELIGIBLE.

BUT THEIR OPTIONS.

>> DR. LUNA, WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY ?

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THESE ALLIES AROUND THE CITY.

AND THERE IS STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AND PROGRAMS.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS REDETERMINATION TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE MEDICAL HOMES.

SO WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY WHO ARE DOCUMENTED AND NORMALLY WOULD NOT QUALIFY.

NOW WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

AND WE HAVE MORE THAN EVER, WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND THE DEVASTATION, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY BEING COVERED AND FOR ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTH.

>> FAMILIES AND FAMILIES WITH KIDS.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS WITH KIDS WHO ARE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID ACTUALLY KNOW IF THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE BENEFITS FOR THEIR KIDS?

>> I THINK SIMILAR FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IF THEY CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THAT THEY UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS.

AND CALL THE STATE WHICH THE PHONE NUMBER IS 800-843-6154.

THEY CAN ALSO GO ONLINE AND UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS.

THEY SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED.

IF THEIR INCOME HAS BEEN SIMILAR OR THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE, THE CHILDREN SHOULD STAY COVERED.

AS DR. LUNA MENTIONED, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS IN CASE INCOME HAS CHANGED.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CLINICS.

THERE MAY BE OTHER OPTIONS IN CASE THEY HAVE TO DISENROLL.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR THESE FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ADDRESSES UPDATED.