TOOLS FOR BENEFIT PARTNERS

Help us keep HUSKY and SNAP members informed by sharing important information about steps they need to take to maintain their coverage. We’ve put together resources to help you communicate upcoming changes to the benefit recipients you serve.

Download the files and use this information on your website, in emails, and on social media to keep community members and affected individuals and families informed.


To request copies of print materials, submit a FAQ, or request a presentation, please click here.

HUSKY Health and Ex Parte Renewals

The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has identified a Medicaid unwinding compliance issue with “ex parte” (automatic or passive) renewals that has impacted more than half the states in the country. Specifically, CMS found that many states were conducting ex parte renewals at the household level instead of the individual level as required by federal law.

Ex parte is an important protective feature of Medicaid eligibility as it is intended to reduce the burden of completing renewal applications on the programs’ members.  It requires that states attempt to determine ongoing eligibility based on electronic data sources available to them before reaching out to members to request information. It is often very effective but given the complex personal circumstances of Medicaid members, ex parte cannot always be used.  When that happens, a manual renewal is requested.

Connecticut initiates renewals at the household level, meaning if someone in the household cannot be ex parte renewed, a request to complete a manual renewal is sent.  While it’s acceptable for states to wait for a response to the manual renewal as updated information may appropriately impact other household members’ eligibility, a lack of response to the manual renewal should not cause the closure of other individuals in the household who appear to qualify based on data from electronic data sources.  Connecticut has identified approximately 26,000 individuals out of over 1.2 million HUSKY recipients since April 2023 who were disenrolled because another household member did not respond to the manual renewal.

In response to CMS and to comply with federal requirements, Connecticut is taking action to ensure all eligible individuals remain covered:

  • In September 2023, DSS implemented system changes to prevent eligible individuals from being disenrolled in the future when other household members have not completed their renewal.
  • In November 2023, individuals who were previously eligible based on ex parte renewal but closed between April 2023 and August 2023 because the household failed to complete the manual renewal, will be reinstated to eliminate any gap in coverage.
    • Individuals will receive a notice and instructions about how to submit claims or be reimbursed for Medicaid covered services obtained during the period for which they should have been enrolled in Medicaid.

It is important to note that if an attempt to renew a Medicaid member through the “ex parte” process is not successful households must still complete their manual renewal. Connecticut residents can also apply for Medicaid at any time and do not have to wait for open enrollment or qualifying life events by visiting: Access Health CT - CT’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace

PHE Unwinding Provider Webinar - 5/25/2023

PHE Unwinding Webinar - 3/28/2023

This video provides details on the end of the COVID-19 SNAP Emergency Allotments.