Many elderly Koreans did not understand what the renewal notification letter for Medicaid service they received in 2009 meant. Now without coverage, they must apply for Medicaid all over again.
Mr. Kim, a resident of Queens, received an expiration notice for Medicaid from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on January 21. Shocked, he hurried to a nearby Korean Service and Education Center, where it was explained to him that his service had been cancelled because he had failed to submit the necessary renewal application – within the prescribed time limit. He had received the letter containing notification of the need for renewal, but, not clearly understanding what it was, had thrown it in the trash.
Mrs. Chong, a grandmother, had gone to the hospital to undergo examinations for breast cancer. While there, she received news that her service had been cancelled. She remembers receiving a letter from Medicaid sometime last year, but, with her limited English, was not able to understand that she needed to renew her service, or that she had only a limited time in which to do so. When she checked her documents, she discovered that her service had been cancelled last October. She is currently preparing to submit a new application for Medicaid, with the help of the Korean Language Service Center.
There are many more instances of elderly Korean people who missed the deadline for renewing Medicaid, and who now have to reapply. Korean-American Community Services (KCS) reports receiving up to 30 phone calls a day relating to Medicaid applications; 50 percent of all calls deal with re-application after a missed deadline. The single greatest reason for missing renewal deadlines is the inability of the recipient to understand English. Difficulty in filing is the second greatest cause. Many elderly Koreans simply don't know how to fill out the form.
In cases where service has been discontinued, it takes almost two months before an application can be processed and approved. However, once service has been restored, coverage is retroactive for three months. In most cases, this means that many of the elderly are forgoing necessary medical treatment and wait for their coverage to be renewed. The renewal process also requires that the applicant gather various documents, required by the government – a task that many find simply too difficult.
"In order to maintain coverage, it is crucial to not miss the deadline for renewing service. If you receive renewal documents in the mail and don't understand what they say, or how to fill them out, don't just discard them. Bring them to us, the NY Korean-American Community Services or other Korean service groups. Staying within the renewal deadline is the best way to prevent the loss of service," says Medicaid social worker Hee-soo Yo.
