INTRODUCTION and NEWS UPDATES 

This article explains the annual procedure to RENEW MEDICAID for people whose Medicaid is administered by the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA).  For those living in different  NYS counties outside NYC, whose Medicaid is administered by the Local Department of Social Services, the forms and procedures may be slightly different than NYC but the general principles are the same.  If your Medicaid is handled by the New York State of Health, your renewal is not covered in this article. 

• The stakes are high.  If recipients do not return renewals,  Medicaid is discontinued.  HRA or the local county Medicaid agency sends a Notice of Discontinuance 10 days before the discontinuance.  When Medicaid is discontinued, so are all services -- including MLTC and home care.  See troubleshooting tips below to ensure that Medicaid is not closed.  

• MARCH 2026 UPDATES -

• HRA VENDOR GLITCH in FALL 2025 caused 6,611 NYC Medicaid consumers to receive notices discontinuing their Medicaid even though they returned their renewals.  See HRA Medicaid Alert Mar. 3, 2026 - including copy of notice that was sent to the consumers.  HRA reports that all of the errors were corrected. 

• 2026-03-12 Medicaid Renewal Reprint and E-Notices ACCESS HRA - Consumers who have an Access HRA account can reprint renewals - even if the "respond by" deadline has passed, if it is within 90 days of the case closing, they can print out and submit the renewal.  

• Read NYLAG's PowerPoint with tips on how to respond to the renewal to prevent cut-off of Medicaid.    

  Annual Medicaid Renewals & Case Closings Resumed in March 2023  After 3-Year Covid Pause  - "UnWINDING of the Public Health Emergency"-- 

Starting March 2020,  all Medicaid cases were automatically extended for 12 months, without processing the renewals.  This happened  again each  year, because Medicaid could not be discontinued or reduced during the "Public Health Emergency."  See GIS 20 MA/04, GIS 20 MA/11 and more here.  Most counties in NYS stopped sending the renewals entirely, but NYC HRA still sent out the renewal packets  -- but could not discontinue Medicaid if the consumers don't return it.  Instead, Medicaid office (HRA in NYC) had to extend Medicaid coverage for 12 months.  

March 2023 started the "unwinding" of the Public Health Emergency.   MEDICAID  RENEWALS started  again statewide.  See ARCHIVE: NYS UNWINDING here.  

Starting in May 2025, discontinuances  for failure to return the renewal resumed in NYC. 20,000 NYC Medicaid recipients were sent notices that their Medicaid is STOPPING in early May 2025!   This continues every month.

TIMING  - When to Expect your Medicaid Renewal Depends on the Dates of your  Medicaid authorization  

1. Find the starting month of your authorization period on your Medicaid acceptance letter.  The attached sample Notice of Decision on Your Medical Assistance (p. 6 of PDF) is dated July 31, 2019. Here are the key dates.

   • July 1, 2019 to June 20, 2020 - one-year authorization period.

   • March or April 2020 - Putting aside the COVID pause -- the next renewal would have been sent during this period with a return due date of May 10, 2020. 

   • May 10, 2020 - If renewal wasn't returned by this date, on --

   • June 20, 2020 -  a notice of discontinuance is sent effective July 1, 2020. 

• Must request Fair Hearing before July 1, 2020 to prevent Medicaid from stopping on July 1st.  But under special rules until Dec. 2025,  Even if request hearing late - up til Aug. 20, 2020 - Medicaid should be restored as "Aid Continuing" back to July 1. 2025.  Download the CMS Fair Hearing e14 Waiver Approval

• JULY 1, 2020 - MEDICAID CUT OFF if did not request a Fair Hearing before that date. 

1. For another example of timing -- see the sample notices at pp. 7-8 of this PDF.  These are the notices a consumer would receive if their previous authorization period was from Sept. 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019. 

• p. 7 - Renewal Notification dated July 10, 2019 with renewal due August 10, 2019.  

• p. 8 - Notice of Decision on Your Medical Assistance dated Aug. 21, 2019 with Medicaid discontinuing effective Sept. 3, 2019.  Discontinuance is because renewal not returned by August 10, 2019. 

3. In NYC - Find the date your authorization period ends in your account on the AccessHRA website. Once you log in, on the home page, click on RENEW MEDICAID button.   Here you can view your Medicaid case information including: Recert Due Date (currently named Eligibility End Date),

4. If you are enrolled in an MLTC plan, your MLTC plan should notify you of an upcoming renewal shortly before HRA mails you the renewal packet.

5. If you receive your renewal packet in the mail, don't throw out the enclosed gray return bar-coded envelope.  As explained below, you will send back the completed renewal packet in the gray envelope.   See more here about option to file the completed renewal ONLINE. 

 Obtain your renewal packet if you don't receive it in the mail:

1. Set up an account on the ACCESS HRA Website following this link. To set up an account, you will need to create a username, password, and select a security question. You DO NOT need an email address to set up an account. Once you create an account and log in, you may be asked to enter your date of birth and Social Security Number or CIN. Please enter this information to locate your case in HRA's system.

You will then be able to download and print your individualized renewal form. Use this personalized renewal form instead of a new Application, as your renewal packet has a unique barcode and other information that is specific to your case.

This Medicaid Alert explains how to find and print out your renewal.  2026-03-12 Medicaid Renewal Reprint and E-Notices ACCESS HRA .

2. If you are unable to use the Access HRA website, request a copy of your renewal packet by calling HRA's automated line at 1-888-692 6116.

3. If you recently moved and have not updated your address with HRA, you will not receive your renewal, as it will be mailed to your last known address.

   • If your renewal period is coming up in the next 4 months, use Access HRA to download a copy of the renewal form (see  No. 2a above).

   • If you won't be receiving your renewal for at least 4 months, report your new address to HRA immediately.  Call the Medicaid helpline at 1-888-692-6116 to update your address or complete and fax the MAP-751K form to fax 1-917-639-0837. Download the form in English and other languages on HRA site at this link. (Form updated 3-15-2021)(Check back to see if HRA updates the form). Please make sure to keep fax confirmation.  

   • See this HRA Alert 6/30/23 which provides for protections for consumers whose renewal packets are returned by USPS.

How to Complete the Renewal form and What to Attach  -

Completing the Renewal Form.

• See sample  12/2023  renewal form  with attachments as is being used in 2024-2025 here  

1. WRITE in big, clear letters on top of the form and in any white space if you get any special type of Medicaid budgeting -- such as Spousal Impoverishment, Spousal Refusal, MBI-WPD, Pooled Trust, MAGI-like,  DAC, Pickle, or Special MLTC Housing Standard. Also write in if you want  QMB (Medicare Savings Program) as well as Medicaid.  For info about these special Medicaid budgeting rules, see this article  

2. Include all household members and their information.  This includes your spouse if your spouse lives with you, and any minor dependent children (or grandchildren or other relatives) under age 18 or under 19 if in school who live with you.  Do not list your adult children, your siblings, or other roommates.

3. Make any changes to the amount of your rent, your insurance premiums, your income, and your resources.

4. If you have a Pooled Income Trust, be sure to check the box saying you are enclosing a Verification of Deposits that you obtain from your Pooled Trust organization reflecting all deposits you have made for the last year.  Many Pooled Trusts now make this document available online for download.

5. NEW IN 2023 -  Authorization for Verification of Resources - If this form is in the packet, the recipient and their spouse if they are married each must sign this form and send it back with renewal! (MAP-3179 is for applicant  and 3179a is for spouse) (pp. 7, 12-13 of PDF).  The renewal form has a new section to provide the spouse's name, date of birth, Social Security Number and address.  This is in Part 6 RESOURCES (Page 6 of the PDF).  This authorization is likely being required as HRA is belatedly implementing the Asset Verification System (AVS) required by  NYS DOH 17-ADM-02. See more about this here.

6. Financial Maintenance Form -- If your share of household expenses for rent and utilities are more than 70% of your monthly gross income, fill out the Financial Maintenance Form included in the packet to explain how you meet your expenses. (Form is page 10 of this PDF)  If someone pays one or more of your bills, write paid for by ______. You may want to include a letter from this person stating that they pay this bill on your behalf.

What documents to include with your renewal packet.

1. If you have a Pooled Income Trust, include a current Verification of Deposits for the last year through the current month.   Ask your Trust Organization for this form.  Many Pooled Trusts now make this document available online for download.

2. Proof of payment of health insurance premiums. (Ex: Medigap, dental, vision, union/retirement, etc.).  Note: this proof may appear in your pay stub.

3. Proof of income for all of your household members, including: pension letter, letter from employer, paystubs, etc. You do not have to include a letter showing your current Social Security amount, but it is a good idea to include anyway. 

4. If you have an I.R.A., include the most recent statement that shows the amount of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the current year.  Include proof that you are taking or that you have requested regular periodic distributions. 

   • Even if you are under age 70-1/2 (or under 72 if you turned 70 on July 1, 2019 or later) and you are not required by the IRS to take distributions, Medicaid still requires that you take periodic distributions, unless you are under age 65, disabled, and working. 

5. Proof of resources -- current bank and investment account statements that you or your spouse own, even if you own them jointly with someone else. Include a statement of your burial fund account if you have one.   

6. If applicable, a copy of the signed Spousal Refusal form, if any, even if you submitted it before.  

7. If you are in an MLTC plan and have the Special Income Standard for Housing Expenses because you were in a nursing home or adult home in the past, you need to complete, sign and include this form. 

8. Include the Authorization for Verification of Resources form signed by you and your spouse if it was in the packet.

9. BEST PRACTICE TIP:  Write clearly on top of the renewal form and, if you wish, in a cover letter, if you are requesting any special budgeting (see #4.a. above).  If you include a cover letter, explain the proposed budget to demonstrate that the spend-down should be zero.  Make clear if you want the Medicare Savings Program too. 

How to submit your Renewal Packet to HRA:

 MAIL in BARCODED ENVELOPE or FAX

1. FAX 917-639-0733 (new option to submit renewals per 6/3/2025 HRA Medicaid Alert)

2. If returning the renewal by mail -- make two complete copies of the signed original renewal form and all attachments.  Now you have 3 sets: 

   1. Mail the original renewal packet and all required documents to HRA in the barcoded gray envelope you received in the mail.   If you downloaded the form and you do not have the return bar-coded envelope, then mail it to the address below. Make a note of when and where you mailed the bar-coded envelope.  

   2. Mail another complete copy of the renewal packet and all attachments in a separate envelope to the same address via certified mail return receipt requested so you have proof you sent it and when it was received.  Save the return receipt.

3. Keep one complete copy of the signed renewal packet and all attachments, along with the certified receipt for your records.  This will be important if you receive a letter claiming HRA never received your renewal.  See item 8 b. below.

c.    After you send your renewal packet, you can call the automated line at 1-888-692-6116 to check the status of your renewal. Have your Medicaid case number available, which can be found on the top right corner of your renewal form. Be advised it may take some time for the renewal packet to be received and processed.

FILE YOUR RENEWAL ONLINE - and UPLOAD ATTACHMENTS on PHONE APP  

1. Medicaid-only Disabled Aged and Blind (DAB) consumers can submit their Medicaid renewal online using ACCESS HRA as an alternative to returning the paper forms. (see NYC HRA ACCOUNCEMENT -- 2023-04-07 ACCESS HRA Client Portal Enhancements.

   • This includes Medicaid Excess Income or Surplus program and those that receive home care services through a Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan)

   • WARNING:  You cannot upload attachments along with the renewal.  These must be submitted separately through a mobile app.  See below. 

2. Create an account at  https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/. You will need to create a username, password, and select a security question. You DO NOT need an email address to set up an account. Once you create an account and log in, you may be asked to enter your date of birth and Social Security Number or CIN. Please enter this information to locate your case in HRA system. 

3. WARNING - THIS IS A TWO-STEP RENEWAL PROCESS -    (see screenshots of each step in this presentation)

   1. STEP ONE - COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ONLINE RENEWAL FORM.  On the home page of ACCESSHRA, click under MEDICAID heading on the RENEW  button.   Consumers can view their Medicaid case information including: Recert Due Date (currently named Eligibility End Date), Surplus coverage status and Surplus amount.   More information on how to file the renewal online will be posted here soon.  

• Answer questions about household, income, resources, expenses and health insurance information.  Review a summary of your answers and edit as needed
• Electronically sign and submit your completed responses before providing needed documents
• Confirmation # provided with list of documents that need to be submitted by due date (save confirmation as a PDF).

1. STEP TWO - SUBMIT DOCUMENTS via Access HRA Mobile App  

• Must submit requested documents by due date using the Access HRA Mobile App (this is the only way to submit documents if you submit the renewal online). If you do not complete Step 2, the renewal will not be processed.

    see screenshots of each step above  in this presentation

4. Check Status of Renewal - by phone 1-888-692-6116 or on AccessHRA  (See  this presentation for more info - slides 36-38)

  TROUBLESHOOTING  RENEWALS -- What if ... ????

1. You did not receive your renewal form by mail or if you recently moved? 
   See  here for how to print out a blank form online. 

2. You receive a Notice that your Medicaid will be discontinued for failure to renew, even though you sent in your renewal - REQUEST A FAIR HEARING BY PHONE RIGHT AWAY.

Sometimes the computer automatically sends a Notice of discontinuance even when you submit your renewal on time.  See a sample Notice of Decision on Your Medical Assistance at page 8 of this fact sheet.  On this sample notice:

• The DATE of the notice is August 21, 2019.  
• The missed deadline to submit the renewal was August 10, 2019. 
• The EFFECTIVE DATE of the Medicaid case closing is Sept. 3, 2019.
• See below for how to request hearing. 

3. Your Medicaid is cut off but you did not receive a Notice of discontinuance?

• REQUEST a FAIR HEARING RIGHT AWAY.  See below for how to do this

4. What if you are sending your renewal late?    SEND IT IN ANYWAY!  

   "If the individual returns the completed renewal ... within 90 days of the case closure for failure to recertify, districts may use the returned renewal to reopen the   closed case and process the renewal. If eligible, coverage is authorized back to the effective date of discontinuance for the failure  to renew. Renewals processed within this 90-day timeframe qualify for  waiver of the resource test, as described above in Waiver of Resource Test section." GIS 25 MA/06 at p. 2 / GIS 24 MA/07 at p. 2 / GIS 23 MA/03 at p. 7.  See also 2026-03-12 Medicaid Renewal Reprint and E-Notices ACCESS HRA -  even if the "respond by" deadline has passed, if it is within 90 days of the case closing, they can print out and submit the renewal.  

• In NYC, even apart from the state directive giving a 90-day grace period above, you have a 30-day grace period.  HRA must accept the renewal up to 30 days after the case closing.   In the sample notice on page 8, the renewal must be received by HRA within 30 days after September 3, 2019, which is by October 3, 2019. Mail it the same way described  above or bring it to any Medicaid office so it is received within 30 days.  If it is after 30 days, you still have the 90-day grace period unde the above state directives..   See NYC Medicaid Alert, Reapplication & Renewal Grace Period July 31, 2019.

• AND if it is less than 60 days since the Notice of Discontinuance was sent by HRA, request a Fair Hearing too - along with submitting the renewal late.  Under the E14 waiver that continues through 2025, you will still get Aid Continuing. 

WHEN and HOW  to REQUEST THE FAIR HEARING --

Request the fair hearing RIGHT away by PHONE to 1-800-342-3334 -- even though technically you may have time before the deadline discussed here.   

• Requesting hearing BEFORE the effective date of the notice will ensure that Medicaid will continue as "Aid Continuing" without disruption.  For Medicaid to continue, the NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance or OTDA must log in your request and put in the "Aid Continuing" code  before the Effective Date of the case closing (Sept. 3, 2019 in the sample at page 8 here).   THis is just 10 days after the date of the notice.  Then your Medicaid will continue until the fair hearing is held and decided.  This is called Aid Continuing. 

• REQUEST THE FAIR HEARING by phone -- instead of fax, mail, or online at https://otda.ny.gov/hearings/request/?    OTDA is backed up in processing fax, mailed and online requests - and may not enter the Aid Continuing codes in time to alert HRA and MLTC plans to keep the case open.  When you PHONE in the request, they enter the AID CONTINUING code right away.. Be prepared with: 

• Include in request for hearing:

  • Consumer's name, date of birth,  address, phone number,  case number and notice number (if a notice was sent).

  • Request Aid Continuing (even if request is made late after effective date of the notice --  if the notice was "defective" or if you did not receive ANY written notice). 

  • Reasons for the hearing:

1. Lack of adequate  and timely written notice of Medicaid discontinuance (if there was no notice, or if the notice had errors)  

2. HRA/DSS  failed to timely process renewal that was submitted

• If you submit the Hearing Request by fax, online, or mail, include a copy of the  NOTICE, and write the date of the notice, the effective date, and the notice number on the Fair Hearing Request.   (BUT we recommend requesting by PHONE).

Find help for the hearing at https://www.lawhelpny.org/. 

Proof that you submitted your renewal on time (or within the 30-day grace period) will be important to win the hearing.   Sometimes your advocate can help you avoid having a fair hearing altogether but you must request the hearing with Aid Continuing right away to prevent loss of Medicaid and home care services.

HEADS-UP - Renewals will be EVERY SIX MONTHS starting Jan. 1, 2027 for SOME Recipients 

Under HR.1 (also known as the OBBA or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), some Medicaid recipients will have to do renewals every six months instead of annually.  This change applies to those in the "Medicaid expansion" under the Affordable Care Act, most of whom receive Medicaid on the NYStateof Health exchange.  This change does NOT apply to those who are Age 65+, Blind, or Disabled (known as "non-MAGI").  Nor does it apply to the Medicare Savings Program.  See timeline of HR.1. changes and more in this article..  

ARCHIVE:  Unwinding of Public Health Emergency NYS Starting in 2023 

NYS DOH Jan. 13, 2023 Memo and Unwinding Timeline:

• July 2023 - The first  discontinuances of Medicaid for those determined to be no longer eligible based on their renewal,  or who do not respond to the renewal, started in July 2023 outside of New York City.  They must be sent  advance notice with fair hearing rights  10 days in advance.    

• May 2025 - Discontinuances started again in New York City for those who did not return the renewal on time.  

CONSUMERS  had to UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS on FILE WITH MEDICAID OFFICE !!   Otherwise, they will not receive the Renewal forms and will lose Medicaid.

• 12/30/21 -  HRA  Medicaid Alert -mass mailing to all NYC Medicaid recipients telling them to report a change of address that occurred in the last 2 years. See this HRA Alert 6/30/23 which provides for protections for consumers whose renewal packets are returned by USPS.
• HOW TO REPORT CHANGE OF ADDRESS IN NYC - Use  Form 751k (fillable) or in various languages here.   Fax to  1-917-639-0837 or may send by ENCRYPTED email to undercareproviderrelations@hra.nyc.gov 

See the NYS Dept. of Health Important Changes to New York Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan - which has these resources:

• For New Yorkers enrolled through the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) or Local Dept. of Social Services
  • Frequently Asked Questions (3/2023)   English   Spanish   Russian    Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional)   Arabic   Bengali  Other languages here  (scroll down to EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS)
  • Learn about the steps to renew your insurance  (HRA) (Local Dept. of Social Services outside NYC) 
• For New Yorkers enrolled through NY State of Health:
  • Frequently Asked Questions (3/2023
  • Learn about the steps to renew your insurance

* * *

For questions -- contact the NYLAG Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program:

212-613-7310 or eflrp@nylag.org  (Monday 10 AM â�� 2 PM)

Check out http://www.wnylc.com/health/

Check online for updates!