Members who are eligible to change their health or dental plan must make the change by Sept. 17 for an Oct. 1 effective date. Members keeping their current plan do not need to act.
By Hola Iowa
IOWA — Iowa Medicaid members who are eligible to change their health or dental plan have a Sept. 17 cutoff for the new plan to take effect Oct. 1.
The date does not apply as a deadline to keep Medicaid coverage. Members who are satisfied with their current health and dental plans do not need to make a change or contact Iowa Medicaid.
A member must also be within a period that allows a plan change. Current members can generally switch plans during their Annual Choice Period. Newly enrolled members also receive a period when they can make changes for any reason.
After a member’s choice period ends, a plan change generally requires a qualifying “Good Cause” reason.
Changes made by Sept. 17 can begin Oct. 1
Iowa Medicaid uses enrollment cutoff dates to determine when an approved health or dental plan change becomes effective.
The September cutoff is Sept. 17, 2026. An eligible change completed by that date can take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
Members continue receiving Medicaid benefits through their current health or dental plan until the new coverage begins.
As long as Medicaid eligibility does not change, the covered benefits remain the same regardless of which participating health or dental plan a member selects.
Members keeping their current plan do not need to make a change
Iowa Medicaid does not require members to select a different plan during their Annual Choice Period.
A member who wants to stay with the current health or dental plan does not need to contact Iowa Medicaid. Coverage under that plan will continue without interruption.
The specific Annual Choice Period for each member appears in the health and dental Annual Choice materials sent by Iowa Medicaid.
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Iowa Medicaid accepts plan changes online, by phone, email or mail
Members who are eligible to switch plans can submit a health or dental change through Iowa Medicaid Member Services.
- Online: Complete and submit the Health and Dental Change Form.
- Phone: Call 1-800-338-8366.
- Des Moines area: Call 515-256-4606.
- Mail: Member Services, PO Box 36510, Des Moines, IA 50315.
Iowa Medicaid warns that mailed forms received after the deadline may not be processed in time for the requested effective date.
Members can access the change form, comparison materials and Spanish-language resources through the Iowa Medicaid Annual Choice resources.
Members who change plans will receive a new ID card
A member who switches health or dental plans will receive an identification card from the new plan before coverage begins.
Iowa Medicaid says the new card generally arrives about one to two weeks before the effective date.
Until the new plan begins, members continue using the ID card from their current health or dental plan.
The next Iowa Medicaid cutoff is Oct. 19
Iowa Medicaid lists Oct. 19 as the next 2026 enrollment cutoff for changes that can take effect Nov. 1.
A member still needs to be within an eligible choice period or have an approved Good Cause reason to change plans outside that period.
Iowa Medicaid Member Services is available at 1-800-338-8366. The Des Moines-area number is 515-256-4606.
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