Letter to the Icon from William Kose, MD, JD, Vice President of Special Projects, Blanchard Valley Health System

Those of you who receive health insurance through Medicaid, or food through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, will be affected by some changes happening soon.

While these changes are happening at the federal level, and affect multiple agencies, we here at Blanchard Valley Health System want to help make sure everyone has the information they need.

Both Medicaid and SNAP have been operating under different regulations ever since public health declared a federal emergency on Jan. 31, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. States could not remove the insured from their Medicaid rolls as long as the public health emergency was in effect. 

President Biden has announced that the public health emergency will end on May 11, along with the declaration of a national emergency. However, community members may see some changes sooner. Under federal law, states can disenroll people from Medicaid before the emergency ends. 

So, if you’re insured through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing your insurance. The Ohio Department of Medicaid may send disenrollment letters as soon as this spring. Their website stresses the importance of keeping your contact information up to date and responding to any letters requesting information immediately.

It’s vital that you check that you’re still enrolled in Medicaid. To do so, please contact Hancock County Job and Family Services at 419.422.0182. More information is also available at https://jfs.ohio.gov/ or https://medicaid.ohio.gov/. 

SNAP benefits will also be reduced, as recipients have been given higher allotments to purchase more food throughout the public health emergency. Congress has determined that February is the last month of these higher allotments. This means that, if you’re a SNAP recipient, you could lose access to nutritious food that can help you stay healthy. 

Remember, there are resources available to help. Community agencies are working together to ensure no one goes hungry. For more information, contact the West Ohio Food Bank at 419.222.7946.

At BVHS, we care about you and your health. We will take care of you when you need it. We’re here for you. 

We encourage you to contact your county’s Job and Family Services department with any questions you may have. Please also check on your friends and neighbors who may need to hear this message, and make sure everyone is taking good care of themselves. It’s through all of us working together that our community as a whole can stay its healthiest.