In February, Cuyahoga Job and Family Services (CJFS) and the Ohio Department of Medicaid began completing the renewal process for Medicaid benefits. As part of the renewal process, CJFS will determine if individuals currently enrolled in Medicaid still meet federal income and other eligibility standards. Those deemed ineligible may be discontinued from coverage.

For the last three years during the COVID pandemic, customers were not negatively impacted if they did not submit their renewal packet or verifications. They could also not be discontinued if they no longer met most eligibility requirements. In late 2022, actions by the federal government separated the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement from the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration ending the continuous coverage requirement for Medicaid benefits in March 2023.

In February, the Ohio Department of Medicaid began the renewal process for customers with an April 2023 renewal date. In Cuyahoga County, automatic renewals were completed for just over 50 percent of Medicaid customers with April 2023 renewals.

Those with an April 2023 Medicaid renewal who could not be renewed automatically received a renewal packet in early March. The packet was due March 31. Customers who don’t return their renewal packets may have Medicaid benefits discontinued effective May 1, 2023. The same process has already begun for May 2023 renewals, and those renewal packets were sent in early April and are due April 30.

Throughout the coming year, customers who have Medicaid benefits automatically renewed will receive a notice in the mail after the autorenewal is complete notifying them that their benefits have been renewed for 12 more months.

If your benefits are not automatically renewed, you will receive a Medicaid Renewal packet in the month prior to your renewal month. (For example, if you have a June Medicaid renewal, a packet will be mailed in early May for you to complete and return to our agency by May 31.)

For more information, see our Medicaid Info Page: Medicaid Information Page or view a complete list of Medicaid Return To Routine Operations FAQs.

Ways to Renew Medicaid Coverage

Customers who wish to renew their Medicaid benefits DO NOT need to call or complete an interview. If you receive a Medicaid Renewal Form you can complete it and send it back to us in one of the following ways:

• Mail: 1641 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114
• Email: Take a digital picture of the completed form. (A picture of each page is required.) and email it as an attachment to CJFSDocs@jfs.ohio.gov
• Fax: 216-987-7700
• Online: You can complete the form online at https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov. Click “Log In” in the upper right corner, then “Renew My Benefits.”
• Drop box: Drop the documents off at the secure drop-box at any of these sites:

Customers may also call the eligibility contact center at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446) to complete the Medicaid Renewal over the phone. Select the telephone option to Renew Medicaid Benefits.

For more information on Medicaid’s return to routine operations, our podcast “Let’s Talk Cuyahoga” takes a deep dive on this issue. Listen anywhere podcasts are found.