Iowa Medicaid Unwind Basics

This page was created by Heritage Area Agency on Aging using publicly available information provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services as of Feb. 16, 2023. Visit hhs.iowa.gov/ime/unwind for more information.

For questions about the Medicaid Unwind, contact Iowa Medicaid Member Services toll free at 1-800-338-8366.

What is the Medicaid Unwind?

During the Public Health Emergency related to COVID-19, states were required to continue Medicaid coverage for all enrollees. Normally, enrollees would have to go through “redetermination” every year, but this continuous coverage overruled that policy to make sure people had the services needed during the emergency.

When the Public Health Emergency officially ends on April 1, 2023, Iowa Medicaid will have to redetermine eligibility for all members. This will be a long process spread out over several months to more than a year.

Who does the Unwind impact?

The Unwind will affect anyone enrolled in a Medicaid program in Iowa. Because there has been continuous coverage for so long, it will affect thousands of Iowans and millions of people across the country.

This is not happening because you (or anyone else) did something wrong the last time you applied.  But, everyone must respond to mailings from Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to be considered to keep Medicaid coverage. A good rule of thumb is that if you aren’t sure when you last updated information or applied, you should expect to take action during the Unwind.

When does the Unwind take place?

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services chose a timeline that will carry out through May 2024. This long span of time is intended to keep the volume of cases more manageable, instead of cramming everything into a short timeframe.

IDHHS began mailing out instructions for redetermination in February 2023 and will do so through January 2024. There is no way to speed up or delay the process for any one individual.

You will have 60 days from your mailing date to follow the steps for redetermination, so it’s important to not waste time. If you do not follow your steps within the 60 days, you will lose coverage.

What should I do if I’m still eligible and want to keep Medicaid coverage?

Start by being proactive. Then, when the time comes for redetermination, don’t delay:

1.       Call Iowa Medicaid Member Services toll free at 1-800-338-8366 to make sure your current address is on file. This is especially important if you have moved since 2019.

2.       Wait for your letter from Medicaid regarding next steps. These steps will vary based on your situation. Some members will just need to update information, while others will need to complete a full application again.

3.       Follow the steps given to you in a timely manner. You will only have 60 days from the time your mail was sent to complete the steps, or else you will lose coverage.