Meet The Many Faces of Medicaid

You might be surprised to learn who is covered by Medicaid. They may be people you know – loved ones, neighbors or work friends. Read about families and individuals who needed help getting care in the past, or who depend on Medicaid now. They are grateful for the coverage. With regular, sometimes lifesaving care, they are hopeful for the future.

Medicaid is a lifeline and a safety net

At Providence, we believe that health care is a basic human right. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that, together with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provides health coverage to over 75 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States. More than 20.5 million people across the seven western U.S. states we serve have Medicaid coverage. They are part of our human family and each one deserves access to care.

Medicaid Stories

Medicaid stories are everywhere. Scroll our story list to learn about the ways Medicaid helps everyone from babies to seniors.

Medicaid Quiz

Try our Medicaid quiz and see how many myths you can bust. Find out how much you know about its role across the U.S.

Medicaid Videos

Watch our short videos to get some tips before you take our Medicaid quiz. Then see if you are a quiz champ!

Medicaid Makes it Possible

Read about the positive impact of Medicaid coverage for people across America, and share your own story. Sponsored by the Catholic Health Association.

Medicaid re-enrollment information Medicaid Fast Facts Medicaid in Your State Share Your Medicaid Story Additional Information

Medicaid re-enrollment information

Do you have Medicaid? Or did you recently lose your Medicaid? It’s important you understand steps you must take to keep your coverage. On this page, you will have:

Actionable steps to renew your Medicaid
Contact information for your state’s Medicaid Office
Access Providence Financial Counselors for application assistance
Download and print Medicaid Renewal Fliers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone enrolled in Medicaid was continuously enrolled, meaning you did not have to reapply year-to-year. However, with the end of the COVID-19 health emergency, the Department of Health and Human Services has instructed states to re-enroll all Medicaid recipients. This means you must reapply every year moving forward in order to keep your coverage.

What do I need to do?

You must take several steps in order to keep your Medicaid coverage.

1. Ensure your contact information is up to date with your state’s Medicaid office. This is important as they will be sending you information and must have your updated address and phone number. View your state’s Medicaid office contact information.

If you don’t already have one, create an account online by going to the “member account” website for your state listed below. Using your account, you can update your address or reapply online.

2. Check your mail. Your state’s Medicaid office will send you information in the mail letting you know if you need to submit a renewal form to re-enroll in Medicaid coverage.

3. Complete renewal form. If you get a renewal form, fill it out and send it back by the deadline. If you do not respond you will likely be automatically disenrolled.

4. There are other coverage options available to you. If you think you no longer are eligible for Medicaid or have already been notified that you are no longer eligible and have lost your coverage, there are other low cost options for coverage. As soon as this happens, make sure to submit a new or updated Marketplace application to see if you qualify and start your coverage on the first of next month.

Visit www.healthcare.gov or www.cuidadodesalud.gov/es or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY users can call 1-855-889-4325) to find a plan through Marketplace for your state.
An agent, broker, or assister near you can help you with your application and more.

How Providence can help

If you have received care at Providence and are concerned about how to pay your bill or what to do about your health coverage, we are here to help. Please visit our financial counseling page or call 833-880-3500 Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST to learn how to make an appointment with a financial counselor who can help you re-apply for Medicaid, enroll in a marketplace plan, get financial assistance, get on a payment plan and more.

Watch a video to learn more about Providence’s Financial Assistance.

What should I do if I lost Medicaid/CHIP?

If your coverage ended recently because you didn’t send in your renewal form, complete and send it back right away. You may be able to restart your coverage without a new application.
Note: You can apply to Medicaid/CHIP any time, and there’s no limit to the number of times you can apply.
If you aren’t sure if you lost Medicaid or CHIP, or believe you’re still eligible, contact your state to confirm. (View your state’s Medicaid office contact information).
Explore low cost, quality health coverage options through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Most people can find a plan for $10 or less per month with financial help. Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to get help from someone in your area. This service is free and can help you understand your health care options.
Providence can help. Please visit our financial counseling page or call 833-880-3500 to learn how to make an appointment with a financial counselor.

Lost Medicaid or CHIP videos:

Medicaid contact information

View contact information for state Medicaid offices, state and federal marketplaces and health care coverage navigation for Alaska, Washington, Montana, Oregon, California, Texas and New Mexico.
View contact information for all other states

Medicaid renewal information for your state (Flyer with translations in the top 15 languages in each state)

Medicaid Fast Facts

For more than 75 million children and adults across the U.S., Medicaid coverage helps keep them healthy or cares for them during vulnerable times of illness.

A temporary helping hand: Medicaid often fills the coverage gap for a short time to help people get on their feet.
Affordable coverage for working people: Medicaid covers working people who don’t have employer insurance or don’t have access to resources to afford private insurance.
Covers many working people: Six in 10 adults with Medicaid coverage are working (and are not an older adult, covered by Medicare or a person with a disability).
Care for veterans: Nearly one in 10 veterans have Medicaid coverage.
Coverage for women with lower incomes: In 2019, Medicaid covered more than 31 million women or 16% of all adult women in the U.S. Six in ten women with Medicaid (62%) are working and another quarter are caring for family members.
Coverage for women with disabilities: One in three women with disabilities are covered by Medicaid.
Coverage for pregnant people, including postpartum coverage: To help improve maternal health and coverage stability and to help address racial disparities in maternal health, a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 gives states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months via a state plan amendment (SPA).
Cares for older adults: Medicaid supports 5 out of 8 people living in nursing homes – our parents and grandparents.
Helps older adults and others with Medicare costs: About 10 million seniors and younger people with disabilities, or 1 in 6 Medicare beneficiaries, get help from Medicaid as well.

Covers services not available in Medicare: Medicaid covers long-term care in nursing facilities and community care in older adult’s homes, which are not covered by Medicare.
Helps people with mental health needs and prevents suicide: Medicaid covers more mental health services than any other insurer.
Cares for people with a opioid use disorder: Medicaid provides treatment for four out of 10 people with opioid use disorder.
Ensures healthy babies: Nearly 41 percent of all births are covered by Medicaid.
Prevents infant deaths: Medicaid has contributed to dramatic declines in infant and child mortality in our country since the 1960s.
Medicaid covers more than 2 in 5 children: Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover 39 percent of children in the U.S.
Supports vulnerable children: Together with CHIP, Medicaid covers almost half of all children with special health care needs and is the only source of coverage for nearly four in 10 children with special health care needs
Helps children with mental health needs: 42 states cover primary care for children’s mental health. More than 3 million children benefit from these services.
Care for foster kids: Most foster children depend on Medicaid for their health care.