We realize that people get a LOT of junk mail about Medicare plans at this time of year. PLEASE open any mail you have received from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
In September, approximately 1,400 Calhoun County and 560 Barry County residents were mailed letters on gray paper, called a “Loss of Deemed Status Letter” informing them that their Extra Help Low income Subsidy (LIS) is expiring, effective January 1, 2025. Extra Help is the program that helps reduce Medicare Prescription costs.
Loss of Deemed Status may happen for different reasons, including loss of full or partial Medicaid.
It is believed that the majority of beneficiaries losing their deemed status is a result of not completing the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) redetermination process with MDHHS/Medicaid following the unwinding from COVID 19 public health emergency Continuous Coverage. MSP is the Medicaid program which helps pay the cost of your Medicare Part B premium. If you didn’t turn in MDHHS paperwork timely, and they canceled any of your coverages, you might have also lost your deemed status for Extra Help.
Qualifying for MSP automatically enrolls a beneficiary in LIS/Extra Help. People who have received these letters may still qualify for LIS/Extra Help or a MSP. The letters includes a form to reapply for Extra Help. Some people with income or asset limits too high to qualify for MSP (Medicaid) may still qualify for LIS/Extra Help, because LIS allows higher income and asset limits. You will simply need to reapply by returning the paper application form included with their gray letter or going to ssa.gov to apply online. Counselors from the Michigan Medicare Assistance Program (MMAP) can assist.
If you need help responding to CMS or MDHHS paperwork or wish to be screened to see if it’s worth your while to reapply, please contact your local MMAP office at 1-800-803-7174.