500k Ohioans could lose Medicaid benefits for not verifying income

More than 400,000 Ohioans enrolled in Medicaid are expected to receive letters in the next month notifying them that their coverage will be terminated for failure to verify income (Source: “Medicaid could dump 500,000 Ohioans in 6 months,” Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 6, 2015). 

“They should consider this as a final notice,” said Sam Rossi, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Medicaid. “There is personal responsibility. You need to report income for a program like Medicaid.”

The Ohio Department of Medicaid sent letter to 107,000 enrollees this week, with an additional 140,000 notices to be sent next week and another 100,000 scheduled for March.

Medicaid recipients who have benefits terminated have 15 days to appeal the decision. If a hearing officer agrees to reinstate benefits, coverage will be retroactive to the date of termination. After 15 days, recipients can simply re-apply for benefits, although coverage would not be retroactive.