The Minnesota Department of Human Services told lawmakers about 64,000 people enrolled in the state's Medical Assistant and MinnesotaCare programs will be dropped from the programs next month, largely for un-submitted paperwork, according to the Star Tribune.
Of 134,500 cases up for renewal this month 64,000 enrollees failed to respond to requests for medical information, resulting in their elimination from the health plans, reported the Star Tribune. Another 6,100 people received cutoff notices despite submitting required paperwork before the deadline.
"Historically, a significant number of individuals in the renewal pool fail to respond to requests for information, with a large number returning to the programs within 3 months," DHS assistant commissioner Nathan Moracco wrote in a letter to state legislators this week. The DHS reopened the 6,100 cases under contention and assured those enrollees will experience no gap in coverage.
This is the latest in a string of problems the state has encountered with its renewal processing system, MNsure IT, throughout the year. The Star Tribune reported delays to 55,000 insurance renewal cases in May due to technical issues, a number that grew to 180,000 cases by July.
Medical Assistance covers individuals with income levels at or below the poverty line. MinnesotaCare provides insurance for a slightly higher income group.
In a letter to DHS commissioner Emily Johnson Piper, Rep. Matt Dean (R-Minn.) said lawmakers were being "inundated" with calls from constituents worried they won't have coverage in the new year.
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