How to renew your Alabama Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Alabama Medicaid Agency

Always respond to official renewal notices from Alabama Medicaid Agency. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Alabama had high coverage losses during the 2023–2024 Medicaid unwinding — reapply if you lost coverage

As a non-expansion state with narrow eligibility, Alabama saw significant coverage losses when continuous enrollment ended in April 2023. Many adults disenrolled during unwinding were unable to find alternative coverage due to the state's eligibility gaps. If you lost Alabama Medicaid coverage in 2023 or 2024, reapply — your situation may have changed, or you may have been terminated for procedural rather than eligibility-based reasons.

How Alabama Medicaid renewal works

Alabama Medicaid is renewed annually through your county Department of Human Resources (DHR) office. Before your renewal date, DHR will send a renewal notice to the address on file. The notice will either confirm that your coverage was automatically renewed based on information already in the system, or ask you to complete a renewal form.

Alabama conducts ex parte renewal for members whose eligibility can be confirmed through data the state already has — income records, Social Security data, and state agency databases. If your coverage is confirmed through this process, you do not need to take any action.

If a renewal form is mailed to you, return it within the time specified — typically 30 days. Missing the deadline results in termination. Keeping your mailing address current is the single most important thing you can do to protect your coverage.

How to renew

Online via the My Medicaid portal at medicaidhcp.alabamaservices.org — report changes and respond to renewal notices
At your county DHR office — bring your renewal form and any updated income documentation
By phone — call 1-800-362-1504 to speak with a representative about your renewal
By mail — complete and return the renewal form with supporting documents to your county DHR office

Changes to report during the year

Alabama requires Medicaid members to report certain changes. Failing to report changes that affect eligibility can result in overpayments that the state may seek to recover. Report within 10 days:

Address change — most critical, since renewal notices go to your address on file
Income change — new job, job loss, change in wages or self-employment income
Household size change — new family members, household members moving in or out
New or lost health insurance coverage
Change in disability or medical status, if that affects your eligibility category
Death of a household member

Report changes through the My Medicaid portal at medicaidhcp.alabamaservices.org, in person at your county DHR office, or by calling 1-800-362-1504.

If your coverage ends — your right to appeal

If Alabama Medicaid terminates your coverage, you will receive a written notice with the reason and instructions for requesting a fair hearing. You have the right to appeal the termination. In general, you should request the hearing as quickly as possible — if you request an appeal before your coverage ends, you may be entitled to continued coverage while the appeal is pending.

Legal aid organizations in Alabama can help you with appeals if you believe your coverage was wrongly terminated. Alabama Legal Help (alabamalegalhelp.org) and Legal Services Alabama are resources for Medicaid recipients who need help with appeals.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Alabama Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Alabama Medicaid Agency to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Alabama Medicaid Agency sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Alabama Medicaid Agency's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Alabama Medicaid Agency to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Alabama Medicaid Agency within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Alabama Medicaid Agency or update your information through the online portal at https://medicaid.alabama.gov.