Changes to Medicaid, Medical Assistance and CHIP: You MUST renew every year! Update info with PA DHS!

(March 25, 2023)

Changes to Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and CHIP start April 1, 2023. You must renew yearly! Update your information with the PA Dept. of Human Services!

Changes to Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and CHIP start April 1, 2023. You must renew yearly! Update your information with the PA Dept. of Human Services!

COVID-19 relief programs are ending!

As of April 1, 2023, if you receive healthcare coverage through Medical Assistance (also known as MA, or Medicaid) or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you MUST renew every year to make sure you are still eligible. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services (DHS) states on its website:

“A federal law passed in December 2022 ends continuous coverage on April 1, 2023. As of April 1, 2023, DHS must end MA and/or CHIP coverage if a person does not complete their renewal or if they have income or other changes that make them ineligible for MA or CHIP at the time of their renewal.

“Renewals will take place over 12 months, and no one will be disenrolled without having a chance to complete a renewal.”

Steps to keep your coverage:

Update your address & other information with the PA Dept. of Human Services

  • You will receive your renewal letter in the mail, so make sure your information is up-to-date.

  • Pennsylvanians who receive Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or CHIP MUST report changes, including:

    • Change in address;

    • Changes in income;

    • New job or change in job;

    • Change in marital status;

    • Changes in medical insurance coverage; and

    • Changes in household size, including if you expect your household size to change due to pregnancy

    Report changes quickly:

    • Online: dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS

    • Phone app: myCOMPASS PA

    • Call 877-395-8930 if you live in Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery counties or statewide, or 215-560-7226 if you live in Philadelphia.

Find your renewal date:

  • Online: dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS

  • Phone app: myCOMPASS PA (available for Apple and Google Play)

  • Call 877-395-8930 if you live in Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery counties and statewide, or 215-560-7226 if you live in Philadelphia.

  • Save your renewal date and be ready!

Look for your renewal notice in the mail

“Your renewal packet will be mailed to you the month before your renewal is due. If you are signed up to receive text messages from DHS, you will get a text notification when your renewal packet is mailed to you.”

Submit the renewal on time!

  • When you get a letter in the mail about renewing your coverage, make sure you complete the renewal on time! You can finish the renewal in several ways:

    • Online: dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS (as early as 60 days before the renewal is du.)

    • Phone: 866-550-4355 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) (as early as 60 days before your renewal is due)

    • In-person at your County Assistance Office (CAO) (scroll down for locations, addresses and phone numbers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties)

  • If you need help completing your renewal or getting the needed verification documents by the due date, please contact your local County Assistance Office or the Statewide Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930 or 215-560-7226 in Philadelphia.

What if you are no longer eligible?

“If you are no longer eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) when your renewal is reviewed, you will get a letter in the mail telling you that your MA coverage is stopping. You can appeal the decision if you believe it is not correct. Appeal and fair hearing rights and instructions for how to ask for an appeal will be on the letter you will get.  

“If you are not eligible for MA, we send your information to Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health and dental insurance marketplace. You will get a letter if we share your information with Pennie. Pennie lets you shop for plans available in your area and is the only place to get financial assistance to help pay for coverage and/or out-of-pocket costs.  

“Children under the age of 19 who are not eligible for MA may have their information sent to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP provides high quality, affordable health coverage for families with children that covers all the care your child may need like doctors' visits, prescriptions, vision and dental care, and more.”

County Assistance Office locations in Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery counties + state list

County Assistance Offices are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Note that Delaware and Montgomery counties each have two locations.)

Locations in LASP’s service area include:

  • Bucks County

    • 1214 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA 19007

    • Toll-Free: 800-362-1291 | Phone: 215-781-3300 | Fax: 215-781-3438

  • Chester County

    • 100 James Buchanan Drive, Thorndale, PA 19372

    • Toll-Free: 888-814-4698 | Phone: 610-466-1000 | Fax: 610-466-1130

  • Delaware County (Headquarters/Crosby District)

    • 701 Crosby St., Suite A, Chester, PA 19013

    • Phone: 610-447-5500 | Fax: 610-447-5399

  • Delaware County (Darby District)

    • 845 Main St., Darby, PA 19023

    • Phone: 610-461-3800 | Fax: 610-461-3900

  • Montgomery County (Norristown District)

    • 1931 New Hope St. Norristown, PA 19401

    • Toll-Free: 877-398-5571 | Phone: 610-270-3500 | Fax: 610-270-1678

  • Montgomery County (Pottstown District)

    • 24 Robinson St., Pottstown, PA 19464

    • Toll-Free: 800-641-3940 | Phone: 610-327-4280 | Fax: 610-327-4350

  • Look up all Pennsylvania County Assistance Offices

Sources:

Flyers in English & Spanish: Download, print, share!

MedicaidMarion FraleyCHIP, Medical Assistance