Keep Your Medicaid at Renewal (and Get It Back If You Were Dropped)
Medicaid renews once a year, and most people who lose it lose it over paperwork, not because they stopped qualifying. Here is exactly how renewal works, the deadlines that matter, and what to do if you were already dropped.
What is your renewal situation?
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The deadlines that actually matter
Automatic renewal comes first
Your state must try to renew you using data it already has, before asking you for anything. If it works, you may just get a notice that you are renewed. Do not assume, watch for the notice.
If a form is sent: at least 30 days
When automatic renewal is not possible, the state sends a form and must give you at least 30 days to return it with the proof it asks for. Return it early, an incomplete or late form is the top reason eligible people get dropped.
If you were dropped: about 90 days to fix it
If you lost coverage for a paperwork reason, sending the form or information back within at least 90 days of the termination means the state must reconsider you without a brand-new application. Ask your state whether coverage is restored back to the date you lost it.
If coverage is ending and you disagree: appeal before the end date
You get advance notice (generally at least 10 days) before coverage stops. Request a fair hearing before that date and your coverage keeps running while the appeal is decided.
These are the federal minimums; your state may give more time, and the deadline on your own notice always governs. Confirm with your state.
The single biggest mistake: an old address
During the recent nationwide Medicaid renewals, about 69% of everyone who lost coverage lost it for a paperwork reason, not because they were found ineligible. The most common cause is simple: the renewal packet went to an address the person had moved away from, so they never saw it.
If a coverage gap left you with a bill
Renewing and appealing are free, use a navigator or legal aid if you want help (LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov or 2-1-1). Where CareRoute helps is the bill: if a lapse in coverage left you with a medical bill, send it to us and we will review and negotiate it. Free to submit, you only pay if we save you money.
Send us the billFree to submit. You only pay if we save you money.
Frequently asked questions
How does Medicaid renewal work?
Medicaid is renewed once a year. Federal rules require your state to first try to renew you automatically using data it already has (an "ex parte" renewal). If it can do that, you may just get a notice that you are renewed. If it cannot, it sends you a renewal form, and you must be given at least 30 days to return it with any proof it asks for (like income). Returning that form on time is the single most important thing you can do to keep your coverage.
I got dropped for a paperwork reason. Can I get it back without starting over?
Usually yes, and fast. Under federal rules, if you send back your renewal form or the requested information within 90 days after your coverage was terminated (your state may allow longer), the state must treat it as a reconsideration and check your eligibility again WITHOUT making you file a brand-new application. So if you were dropped just because a form did not get returned in time, the quickest fix is to send it in during that window. Ask your state whether coverage is restored back to the date you lost it, that part varies.
Why do so many people lose Medicaid even though they still qualify?
Paperwork, not eligibility. During the 2023-2024 Medicaid "unwinding," about 69% of everyone who lost coverage lost it for procedural reasons (a form not returned, mail sent to an old address, missing proof), not because they were found ineligible. The most common cause is a renewal packet going to an outdated address. Keeping your mailing address, phone, and email current with your state is the best protection.
My coverage is about to end and I still qualify. What do I do?
Act before the end date. Your state must give you advance notice (generally at least 10 days) before stopping your coverage. If you ask for a fair hearing before your coverage-end date, your coverage continues while the appeal is decided (called "aid paid pending"). See our guide on appealing a denied or dropped coverage decision for the exact steps and deadlines.
How do I renew or update my information in Texas?
In Texas, you manage Medicaid through YourTexasBenefits.com (or the Your Texas Benefits app), by phone at 2-1-1, or by mail. Log in or create an account, keep your address and contact info current, and watch for a yellow renewal envelope. Deadlines and exact steps can differ, so always follow the dates on the notice your state sends you.
Can CareRoute help?
The guides here are free, and free trained helpers (navigators and legal aid) can help you renew or appeal at no cost. Where CareRoute is paid is Bill Defense: if a coverage gap left you with a medical bill, we review and negotiate it, and you only pay if we save you money. We do not charge you to keep your Medicaid.
Related
Sources & references
This is general information, not legal advice, and does not create a client relationship. The timeframes here are federal minimums; states may allow more time, exact deadlines and steps vary by state, and rules can change. Always follow the dates and instructions on the notice your state sends you, and confirm with your state Medicaid agency. Last updated: August 2026.