Since pandemic-era protections for health care coverage ended in March, more than 900,000 Texans have lost Medicaid coverage. For the first time in three years, many families and kids are caught up in the state's re-enrollment process, a multi-step system of complex paperwork, deadlines and financial requirements.
Now, whistleblowers who say they work in the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) are alleging people have been denied coverage in error because of mismanagement within the agency.
Texas is one of only 10 states that hasn't expanded Medicaid eligibility, which means only specific groups can access it, like kids, the elderly, pregnant people and people with disabilities. According to HHSC, about 6 million people use Medicaid across Texas – about a third of whom were added since 2020.
Medicaid is comprehensive health care that covers everything from doctor's appointments to prenatal vitamins. It also requires re-enrollment every year, which can mean submitting forms online or in-person to confirm things like identity, address, income, and employment.
The state sent out renewal packets through the mail to about 1.4 million Texans earlier this year to prepare people for the process, along with robocalls, texts, emails and messages online at YourTexasBenefits.com.
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