Renewing Your Health Insurance - Texas Foster Youth Justice Project

Once you have FFCC Medicaid (or MTFCY), you will have to renew it every twelve months. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will mail you a renewal letter 3 to 4 months before your benefits are set to end each year.

The letter will be mailed to the address they have on file for you. This is why it is so important to keep your address updated! The envelope will say “Time Sensitive,” and you only have 10 days to respond. If you have moved, you may be asked to provide documentation of your new address. If HHSC does not get a response from you by the end of your 11th month of coverage, your health insurance benefits will end! So respond as soon as possible so you don’t lose your Medicaid. You do not want to get sick or hurt and show up to the doctor’s office or emergency room only to find out you do not have health insurance. Health care is very expensive if you don’t have insurance.

You can renew your Medicaid by:

Checking and submitting your renewal at the Your Texas Benefits website or app;
Calling 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905; or
Completing the forms with the renewal letter and returning it by mail or fax.

If you know your Medicaid is expiring in two months or less and you haven’t gotten a renewal letter yet, you can still check your account on the Your Texas Benefits website or app or call 2-1-1 to renew it. Be sure to check that your address is up to date.

Proof of Address: Medicaid often wants some proof that you live in Texas. If you don’t have a lease or bill or other documents that show your current mailing address, you can have someone who is familiar with your situation complete a form that says you live in Texas. You can find the Medicaid Residency Verification Letter that they can use here.

There is a Your Texas Benefits mobile app available: this is a great way to upload required documents, change your address, and check the status of your benefits. Visit www.yourtexasbenefits.com to get the app. If you have trouble accessing your account, call 2-1-1 and ask for a foster youth specialist.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Always keep your address up to date with Medicaid. The easiest way to do this is online at: www.YourTexasBenefits.com and clicking on Report a Change under Case Facts in your account, by calling 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905, or using the Your Texas Benefits mobile app. Failing to keep your address up to date may result in your benefits being cut off. Besides not getting renewal letters, if any mail is returned to the agency, they will cut off your insurance.
If you move a lot and cannot keep your address up to date, you should talk to a trusted adult about accepting mail for you. Most transition support case managers will do this for you. You could also ask a relative, mentor, or CASA worker. Don’t use your friend’s apartment address as often the post office won’t deliver mail to someone not on the lease.