Beginning April 1, states can begin disenrolling residents from Medicaid if they are no longer eligible, a move that is expected to impact thousands of Alabamians. Two local organizations, Medical Outreach Ministries (M.O.M.) and The Wellness Coalition (TWC) offer free services and programs for underinsured and uninsured River Region residents to ensure no one goes without affordable healthcare.
“Since 2020, no one could be dropped by Medicaid due to the public health emergency for COVID-19,” said Molly Stone, executive director for Medical Outreach Ministries. “Now that the public health emergency is ending and Alabama is not a Medicaid expansion state, it is likely that thousands of people could lose their Medicaid coverage.”
Current Medicaid enrollees are encouraged to take steps to ensure coverage is renewed. These steps include:
- Updating your contact information with Alabama Medicaid
- Looking out for mail from Alabama Medicaid about your coverage
- Completing the Alabama Medicaid renewal form (if one is received)
Two nonprofits in Montgomery, Medical Outreach Ministries and The Wellness Coalition, are providing free assistance for Montgomery residents affected by this loss of coverage.
Services To Meet the Need
Medical Outreach Ministries provides free, quality healthcare to uninsured adults. Such services include routine medical care, mental health care services, medication assistance, and more. Medical care is provided free of charge for patients who do not have health insurance and who are between the ages of 19 and 64. To apply to become a patient, interested parties should visit momclinic.org or call (334) 281-8008.
“There are many uninsured adults who fall through the cracks of the healthcare system because they are not eligible for public assistance,” said Stone. “If someone loses Medicaid coverage and thinks they don’t have any affordable options for healthcare, we want them to know that M.O.M. takes care of people just like them.”
The Wellness Coalition provides free assistance to individuals and families with online applications for health insurance through HealthCare.gov, Medicaid, or any other insurance for which they may be eligible. To get free assistance from a certified enrollment specialist, interested parties should call The Wellness Coalition at (334) 293-6502.
“If people find themselves without coverage, they can contact us for free health insurance enrollment assistance,” said Ghandi Daniels, executive director of The Wellness Coalition. “We have certified counselors who can help them with the online enrollment process for any health insurance for which they may be eligible.”
Learn more about health insurance enrollment assistance from The Wellness Coalition.