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State of California—Health and Human Services Agency |
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Department of Health Care Services |
zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihDirectorGovernor |
TOBY DOUGLAS |
EDMUND G. BROWN JR. |
Date: |
February 10, 2014 |
TO: ALL COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS Letter No. 1403
ALL COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
ALL COUNTY MEDICAL PROGRAM SPECIALISTS/LIAISONS
ALL COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ALL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTORS
SUBJECT: 2014 Renewals: Converting PreACA MediCal Beneficiaries to MAGI MediCal
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is providing guidance as a result of Assembly Bill (AB) x1 1, Chapter 3, Statutes of 2013, as well as recent guidance provided by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). This letter is to provide the Statewide Automated Welfare Systems (SAWS) and counties with policy guidance.
This guidance is focused on implementing MediCal annual redeterminations to convert beneficiaries from PreACA (PreAffordable Care Act) MediCal to Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) MediCal in 2014.
This ACWDL overrides previous ACWDLs on the MediCal annual renewal process including ACWDLs 0616, 0617, and 1123.
Background
As prescribed in Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 14005.37, the MediCal annual redetermination process for those individuals subject to MediCal benefits on the basis of MAGI, shall be streamlined and simplified. MediCal beneficiaries will have their annual redeterminations conducted via an “ex parte” review of available information to the greatest extent possible.
An “ex parte” review refers to an upfront review of current beneficiary data and information by the eligibility worker before asking the beneficiary for additional data. An ex parte review may be able to provide for an upfront renewal of MediCal benefits without a beneficiary ever having to complete an annual redetermination packet. Such action furthers the process principles of being streamlined and simplified.
MediCal Eligibility Division
1501 Capitol Avenue, MS 4607, P.O. Box 997417, Sacramento, CA 958997417
(916)5529430 phone, (916) 5529477 fax Internet Address: www.dhcs.ca.gov
All County Welfare Directors Letter No.: 1403
Page 2
February 10, 2014
While in the future, the ex parte review is to occur prior to seeking any information from the beneficiary, and beneficiaries from whom information is needed will receive a pre populated redetermination form, a slightly different process must be followed for existing PreACA MediCal beneficiaries whose annual redeterminations are due after January 2014. For these PreACA MediCal beneficiaries, the first ex parte review process would automatically fail due to the fact that there is not enough information known about the beneficiary’s tax household and tax income to conduct a MAGI eligibility determination. To determine MAGI eligibility for preACA beneficiaries, current information about federal tax household and income is needed.
Specifically, MAGI MediCal is based upon IRS tax rules, but IRS information is not known for PreACA MediCal beneficiaries. Therefore, counties are required to collect additional information on PreACA MediCal beneficiaries in order to complete the beneficiary’s 2014 annual redetermination. Many MediCal beneficiaries are not required to file taxes because their income is so low. For those beneficiaries, the state still needs to determine the MAGI household and determine current income.
MediCal Annual Redetermination Process Will Begin May 2014
The MediCal annual redetermination process, as prescribed below in this letter, shall begin for individuals with redeterminations due in May 2014. Counties shall ensure they do not process MediCal annual redeterminations for individuals who would have otherwise been due for redetermination from January 2014 through April 2014. Those who had redeterminations due from January through April will be moved according to the below schedule.
Beginning with annual redeterminations due in May 2014, MediCal annual redeterminations for 2014 only will be processed according to the following timeline:
クJanuary and May annual redeterminations in May
クFebruary and June annual redeterminations in June
クMarch and July annual redeterminations in July
クApril and August annual redeterminations in August
Request For Tax Household Information (RFTHI) Redetermination Packet Counties are hereby instructed to use the RFTHI Redetermination Packet. The RFTHI Redetermination Packet collects the necessary income and tax household information that is missing from their current MediCal case in order to conduct a MAGI eligibility determination.
The beneficiary is not required to physically return the RFTHI Redetermination Packet. The beneficiary can provide the information requested in the packet by mail, by fax, in person, or over the phone.
All County Welfare Directors Letter No.: 1403
Page 3
February 10, 2014
The RFTHI Redetermination Packet is shown as Attachment A of this letter. This packet consists of the following components:
1.Cover Letter The cover letter explains to a MediCal beneficiary the change to the MediCal annual redetermination process as prescribed in the ACA.
2.Instructions Page The instructions page explains to the beneficiary how to complete the form.
3.RFTHI Form This is the main annual redetermination form. One of these forms must be completed, or the information must otherwise be provided, by each member of the household; however, only the head of household must complete Section 9 and sign the form.
4.RFTHI Supplemental Form – This form supplements the RFTHI form. This form must be completed, or information otherwise provided, once for the entire household. Only one Supplemental Form per household is required.
Please note; the supplemental forms that are currently sent with the MediCal annual redetermination packet continue to be sent with the RFTHI packet. The RFTHI packet is simply replacing the MC 210RV and MC 201PS packet with the RFTHI Redetermination Packet for 2014.
The Department will be issuing further guidance on the 2014 annual redetermination process very shortly.
If you have any questions, please contract Braden Oparowski by phone at (916) 5529570 or by email at Braden.Oparowski@dhcs.ca.gov.
Original Signed By:
Tara Naisbitt, Chief
MediCal Eligibility Division
Important news about how to
keep your Medi-Cal!
Beginning this year, MediCal eligibility will be determined for most people using income tax rules and personal filing information. MediCal will count the size of your household and your income based on your tax information. If you do not file taxes, you can still get MediCal.
Because you have MediCal now, we already know a lot about you. What we do not know is your tax household information. To get this information, we need you to fill out the forms that are enclosed with this letter.
We will use the information on these forms, along with the information we already know about you, to see if you still qualify for MediCal. Please complete the forms for yourself and the family members either living with you or claimed on your tax return. Only the head of household (the person who files taxes) must complete Section 9 of the “Request for Tax Household Information (RFTHI)” form and sign the forms. You only have to fill out these forms this year as we move you from the current Medi Cal rules to the new MediCal rules. In the future, we will try to redetermine your eligibility each year based on the information we have without asking for anything more from you.
Since we will now use your tax information to determine MediCal eligibility, we may be able to electronically check the information you give us to see if you are still eligible for MediCal. If we are able to do so, we may not need any additional paper documents other than the enclosed forms. If we cannot check your information electronically, we will ask you for paper documents. You will only be asked to send paper documents for the information we could not check electronically.
If you are not eligible for MediCal based on the new rules, you may still qualify for other MediCal programs, but we must first check your eligibility based on tax information to see what type of Medi Cal you are eligible for.
In order to see if you are still eligible for MediCal, you must give us the information on the Request for Tax Household Information (RFTHI) form and the RFTHI Supplemental Form. You must give us this information for yourself and each person living with you or claimed on your tax return.
You must give us this information by ______________.
There are three ways you can give us this information:
By mail:
You can give us this information by completing the forms sent with this letter. You must complete one RFTHI form for yourself and each person living with you or claimed on your tax return and one RFTHI Supplemental for your household. Please mail the forms to this address
________________________.
By phone:
You can give us this information over the phone by calling us at ________________. When you call,
you should have your most recent federal tax return available, if you file taxes.
In person:
Comments 1/24/14
Important news about how to
keep your Medi-Cal!
You can give us this information by visiting us at ______________________.
Remember, you must give us this information by ____________________ or you may lose your
MediCal benefits.
Comments 1/24/14
State of California – Health and Human Services Agency |
Department of Health Care Services |
Request for Tax Household Information (RFTHI)
Please contact us if you need this form in another language, large print, or other format
How to complete this form:
1.Answer all of the questions on the form. Use ink and print your answers. If you need more space, attach a separate sheet to this form.
2.Read the information about you and each member of your household, including tax dependents. Add any missing information. If any information has changed, write in the correct information.
3.Sign the form on page 3
4.Return this form by MM/DD/YYYY. Use the postage paid envelope to return the form. IF you do not return the form by this deadline, you will lose your Medi-Cal coverage.
What we need:
If you do not qualify for Medi-Cal:
Need Help?:
We need information about each person living in your household or listed on your tax return, including:
クThose who get Medi-Cal now
クThose who do not have Medi-Cal now but would like to apply,
and
クThose who live in the household and do not have Medi- Cal but do not want to apply.
If you do not qualify for Medi-Cal, we will check to see if you qualify for other kinds of health coverage. We may send your information to another program so they can see if you qualify.
Call your Medi-Cal Agency at (866) 613-3777 TTY: (800) 660-4026
You can call Monday to Friday 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
HCR RFTHI - Request for Additional Information |
Page 1 |
You must fill out one of these forms for each person in your household and return it to the
County
Case Number (optional) |
SSN or ATIN/ITIN |
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Individuals’ Name |
Birth date (mm/dd/yyyy) |
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Current street address, apartment number |
City |
Zip code |
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Mailing address, if different from above |
City |
Zip code |
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1. |
Is this person: ☐ Employed |
☐ Self-Employed |
2. |
If this person is currently employed, list all of the information about all types of income received including: |
Employer Name: _______________________________________ Employer Address: _______________________
Employer Phone Number: _____________________________ Average Hours Worked Each Week: _________
Wages/Tips (before Taxes): ____________ ☐Hourly ☐ Twice a Month ☐ Semi Monthly ☐Monthly ☐ Yearly
3. If this person is self-employed, answer the following question:
Type of work: ____________________________________
Home much net income (profit once business expenses are paid) will you receive from self-employment this month?:
_________________________________________
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4. |
For this person, do you plan to file a federal income tax return NEXT YEAR? ☐Yes, complete a-c |
☐No, skip to c |
a. |
Will you file jointly with a spouse? |
☐No |
☐Yes, Name of Spouse: ___________________________________ |
b. |
Will you claim any dependents? |
☐No |
☐Yes, Name of Dependents _______________________________ |
c. |
Will you be claimed as a dependent on someone’s tax return? ☐NO |
☐Yes |
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If yes, list the name of the tax filer: |
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How is this person related to the tax filer: |
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5. |
Please answer the following questions only if this person is under the age of 21 and a full time student: |
Did this person have health insurance through a job and lost it within the last 12 months? ☐Yes |
☐No |
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6. |
Were you or anyone else in your family who is age 26 or younger in foster care at the age of 18? |
☐Yes ☐No |
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7. |
Has this person’s immigration or citizenship status changed in the past 12 months? ☐ Yes |
☐No |
If Yes, please explain what changed: __________________________________________________________________
8. Is this person: |
☐Hispanic ☐Latino |
☐Spanish ☐ American Indian or Alaskan Native ☐ White |
☐Black or African American ☐ Filipino ☐ Chinese ☐ Japanese ☐ Cambodian ☐ Korean ☐ Vietnamese
☐Asian Indian ☐Laotian |
☐Other Asian, specify: _____________________ |
☐Native Hawaiian |
☐Guamanian or Chamorro |
☐Samoan |
☐Other or Mixed Race |
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HCR RFTHI - Request for Additional Information Form |
Page 2 |
9.Renewal of coverage for future years:
To make it easier to determine my eligibility for help applying for health coverage in future years, I agree to allow the Marketplace to use income data, including information from tax returns. The Marketplace will send me a notice, let me make any changes, and I may opt out at any time.
☐5 years (the maximum number of years allowed), or for a shorter number of years:
☐4 years
☐3 years
☐2 years
☐1 year
☐Don’t use information from tax returns to renew my coverage.
**Note: The income/tax filing information is required for all household members. If additional family members are employed or self-employed, questions 1-4 should be answered for these individuals as well.
Your Rights and Responsibilities |
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ク I am signing this renewal form under penalty |
ク If I think Covered California has made a mistake. I |
of perjury. That means that I have provided |
can appeal its decision. To appeal means to tell |
true answers to all the questions on this form |
someone at Cover California that I think the action is |
to the best of my knowledge, and I know that |
wrong, and ask for a fair review of the action. I know |
I may be subject to penalties under federal |
that I can find out how to appeal by contacting |
law if I provide false or untrue information. |
Covered California at 1-800-300-1506. Someone |
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from Covered California will explain anything about |
ク I know that I must tell Covered California if |
this application to me if I need that. |
anything changes and is different from what I |
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wrote on this form. I can call 1-800-300-1506 |
ク I understand that if I do not qualify for other kinds of |
or visit coveredca.gov to report any changes. I |
health coverage. Covered California may send my |
understand that a change in my information |
information to another program so they can see if I |
might affect whether someone in my |
qualify. |
household qualifies for coverage. |
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ク I know that under federal law, discrimination |
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is not permitted on the basis of race, color, |
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national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, |
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gender identity, or disability. I can file a |
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complaint of discrimination by visiting |
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hhs.bov/ocr/office/file. |
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I declare, under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California that all information provided on this form is true and correct.
Need help? |
Call Covered California at 1-800-300-1506 (TTY: 888-889-4500). You can |
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call Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. |
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HCR RFTHI - Request for Additional Information Form |
Page 3 |
ナOnetime payment
ナMonthly
ナOnetime payment
ナMonthly
Request For Tax Household Information (RFTHI) Supplemental Form
Complete this form for your household
Please copy this form if you need additional space.
Does anyone in the household have income that is not from a job? Do not include child support payments, veteran’s payments, or
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). See Page 3 for additional information.
Does anyone in the household have income that is not from a job? ナ Yes If yes, who? ________________________ If yes, answer the questions below.
ナNo If no, go to “Does anyone in your household have deductions" on this page.
Where does this income come from?
How often does this person get this income?
ナHourly: How many hours per week?
ナDaily: How many days per week?
ナWeekly
(check one)
ナEvery two weeks
ナTwice a month
Does anyone in the household have income that is not from a job? ナ Yes If yes, who? ________________________ If yes, answer the questions below. |
ナNo If no, go to “Does anyone in your household have deductions" on this page. |
Where does this income come from?
How often does this person get this income?
ナHourly: How many hours per week?
ナDaily: How many days per week?
ナWeekly
(check one)
ナEvery two weeks
ナTwice a month
Does anyone in your
household have If you pay for certain things that can be deducted on a federal income tax return, telling us about them may lower the cost of health insurance. Do not include selfemployment expenses. See Page 3 for additional information.
deductions?
Does anyone in your household have deductions? ナ Yes If yes, who _______________________ If yes, answer the questions below.
ナNo If no, go to "Additional information we need" on this page.
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Type of deduction |
How often does this person get this deduction? (check one) |
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How much? |
ナ |
Alimony paid |
ナHourly: How many hours per week? |
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ナEvery two weeks |
$ |
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ナ |
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Student loan interest |
ナDaily: How many days per week? |
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ナTwice a month |
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ナOther _______________________ |
ナWeekly |
ナMonthly |
ナ Quarterly |
ナOnetime payment |
ナ Yearly |
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Does anyone in your household have deductions? ナ Yes If yes, who _______________________ If yes, answer the questions below. |
ナNo If no, go to "Other eligibility information" on this page.
Type of deduction
ナAlimony paid
ナStudent loan interest
ナOther ________________________
How often does this person get this deduction? (check one)
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ナHourly: How many hours per week? |
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ナEvery two weeks |
ナDaily: How many days per week? |
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ナTwice a month |
ナWeekly |
ナMonthly |
ナ Quarterly |
ナOnetime payment |
ナ Yearly |
Additional information we need. Please answer the questions below that apply to you or anyone in your household.
Is anyone in your household 19 to 20 years old and a fulltime student? ナYes ナNo If yes, who? _______________________________
Does anyone in your household have a physical, mental, emotional, or developmental disability? ナ Yes |
ナ No |
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If yes, who? _____________________ |
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Does anyone in your household need help with longterm care or home and communitybased services? |
ナYes |
ナNo |
If yes, who? _____________________ |
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Is anyone in your household pregnant? ナ Yes ナ No If yes, who? ________________________
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If yes, what is your expected due date? ________________ |
How many babies are expected? __________________ |
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Has anyone moved into or out of the home in the past 12 months? |
ナYes ナNo |
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If yes, who __________________________ What is your relationship to this person? ___________________________ |
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What language should we write you in? ________________ |
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What language do you want us to speak to you in? _______________ |
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If anyone in your household has changed their citizenship/immigration status in the past 12 months, list the name(s) below: |
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Name of Person (Include first and last name) |
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New Immigration or Citizenship Status |
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Examples of income not from a job
Use this list for “Does anyone have income that is not from a job?”
クUnemployment benefits
クSocial Security benefits
クRetirement or pension income
クRent or royalty income
クAlimony received
クInvestment income
クCapital gains
クFarming or fishing income
クCanceled debts
クCourt awards
クJury duty pay
クOther income not from a job
Deductions
Use this list for “Does anyone in the household have deductions?”
クCertain self-employment expenses
クStudent loan interest deduction
クTuition and fees
クEducator expenses
クIRA contribution
クMoving expenses
クPenalty on early withdraw of savings
クHealth savings account deduction
クAlimony paid
クDomestic production activities deduction
クCertain business expenses of reservists, performing artists, and fee-based government officials
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