Free CMS Tear Pads: Connecting to Coverage After Losing Medicaid

Date: 07/26/23

As the continuous coverage unwind and redetermination processes continue in Louisiana, many of your patients may lose coverage and be unable to access the care they receive from you. Patients may not even realize they have been disenrolled from Medicaid until they try to fill a prescription or arrive at your office for an appointment.

Nearly three-quarters of Medicaid enrollees who are disenrolled may still be eligible but lose their coverage due to procedural reasons. Once disenrolled, Louisiana Medicaid members have up to 90 days to renew without having to submit a new application. For those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid, plans and advance premium tax credits offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace can help them stay covered.

You can help your Medicaid patients who have lost coverage know how to connect back to care. To make communicating this message easier, CMS is offering free Unwinding Tear Pads to providers and community organizations. The information directs patients to next steps for either completing their Medicaid renewal or signing up for Marketplace health plans.

Free Unwinding Tear Pads in English and Spanish are now available to order through the CMS Product Ordering website. Accounts and all products are free of charge.

To order your free tear pads, follow the steps below:

1. Visit cms.hhs.gov/pow/ and click the “Request an Account” button.
2. Enter your information and click “save”. 
3. Look for an email from CMS POW Support, who will notify you when your request has been approved.
4. Once you have been approved, visit cms.hhs.gov/pow/ and login using your username and password. You will need to enroll in password verification the first time you log in.
5. After you have logged in, find the search term box in the upper right, and search for the term “Losing Medicaid or CHIP?”.
6. On the screen, you will see the tear pad options for English and Spanish. Enter the number of copies you would like to order, then click “Add to Cart”.
7. Click the “cart” icon in the upper right corner when you are ready to check out and follow the steps to place your order.