✔ Backed by: Medicaid.gov · HealthCare.gov. Each fact links to its source, and the full list is at the bottom of this post.
If you or your child has Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), your state checks each year to see if you still qualify. This is called Medicaid renewal [1]. For many people it goes smoothly. For others, coverage ends even though they may still qualify. Sometimes it is simply because a letter went to an old address or a form came back late.
A gap in coverage can mean a delayed appointment, a prescription you cannot fill, or a surprise bill. The good news is that a few simple habits can help you stay covered. Medicaid.gov lists three steps [1]. Here is how to put each one into action, plus what to do if your coverage does end.
How Medicaid renewal works
During a renewal, your state looks at whether you still qualify, using information it already has. If the state needs more from you, it mails you a renewal letter [1]. Medicaid and CHIP are run by each state, so the details, forms, and timelines differ from place to place [1]. Your state’s letter is always the best guide for your own case.
This is why the steps below matter. If the state cannot reach you, or does not get the information it asked for, your coverage could stop.
Step 1: Update your contact information
Make sure your state has your current mailing address, phone number, and email [1]. Do this any time you move or get a new number, not just when renewal time comes around.
You can find your state’s Medicaid contact details on Medicaid.gov, or on any official notice you have received [1]. When you call, you can say: “I want to check my contact details. What address and phone number do you have for me?” While you are on the line, ask whether you can also get notices by text or email.
For example, imagine a young mom who moved across town last spring. She updated her address with the post office, but not with Medicaid. Her renewal letter went to the old apartment, and she never saw it. A two-minute call when she moved could have prevented that.
Step 2: Watch your mail
Your state will send a letter that says whether you need to fill out a renewal form [1]. Open every letter from your state Medicaid office, even if it looks routine or confusing. Some important notices look a lot like junk mail.
It helps to pick one spot at home, like a basket or folder, for all health insurance mail. When a letter arrives with a due date, write that date on the envelope and on your calendar. Do you help a parent or other family member? Ask the state office how you can be listed as a contact or helper. Then you can keep an eye on deadlines together.
Tru-Tips: Set a phone reminder a week before any renewal due date. If you are helping a loved one, set the same reminder on your phone too. Two reminders are better than one.
Step 3: Fill out the form and send it back fast
If you get a Medicaid renewal form, fill it out and return it right away to help avoid a gap in coverage [1]. Waiting until the last day leaves no room for mail delays or missing papers.
A short checklist can keep you on track before you send it:
- Gather what the form asks for, such as pay stubs or proof of address.
- Make a copy or take a photo of every page you send.
- Write down the date you sent it, and the name of anyone you spoke with.
Keeping copies and notes gives you proof if something gets lost. If a question on the form does not make sense, call your state office and ask for help before you guess. You can say: “I am filling out my renewal form, and I do not understand this question. Can you walk me through it?” Many state offices offer help in other languages and through TTY relay, so ask about that too [1].
If you no longer qualify
Sometimes life changes, like a new job or a raise, mean you no longer qualify. That does not have to mean going without coverage. You may be able to buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace and get help paying for it. If you are eligible for Medicare, you may be able to sign up or change your Medicare coverage [1].
Losing Medicaid or CHIP can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. That lets you sign up for Marketplace coverage outside the usual Open Enrollment season. You can generally qualify if you lost coverage in the past 60 days or expect to lose it in the next 60 days. If you lost Medicaid or CHIP in the past 90 days, you may still qualify [2]. You may need to send papers that show your coverage ended, so keep your notice [2]. Because of these time limits, it is best to act right away.
The Marketplace Call Center is 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) [1]. Also, most children can still be covered through CHIP even when a parent no longer qualifies for Medicaid [1], so ask about your kids separately.
Watch out for scams
Medicaid renewal season can bring scam calls and texts. Medicaid.gov says your state and the Marketplace will never threaten you or ask for a credit card or payment to keep or qualify for coverage [1]. Do not share personal details or pay anyone who says you must pay to keep Medicaid or CHIP. Calls, emails, or texts that ask for your Social Security number, gift cards, or money, or that threaten legal action, can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and your local police [1]. When in doubt, hang up and call your state office using a number you know is real.
Let’s talk about it
What has helped you, or someone you help, keep track of Medicaid mail and deadlines? If you have been through a renewal, what do you wish you had known first? Your tip could help another family stay covered.
One Tru Step: Today, call your state Medicaid office or log in to your account and confirm your mailing address is correct.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked October 15, 2026. General education; individual care and coverage questions require an appropriate professional.
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