New Medicaid signup site opens as Kynect starts to wind down

As the new administration of Gov. Matt Bevin continues to move toward dismantling the state's Kynect health-insurance exchange, it has launched an online portal for Kentuckians to apply for Medicaid and other public assistance.events 

Benefind will also provide access point for the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program, a sort of Medicaid for minors; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once known as food stamps; and the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program, or cash assistance. SNAP and KTAP applications will still require an interview with county-level staff of the Department for Community Based Services.

“With a one-stop spot like benefind, families across the commonwealth can create an account and access it 24/7,” Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson said in a news release. “For customers and eligibility staff, Benefind is truly modernizing the registration and data management process.”

The service launched Monday, Feb. 29 at https://benefind.ky.gov. Customers can use it to renew benefits, check benefit amounts, report changes, upload verification documents, check claim status, make claim payments and receive electronic notices. They can still apply for services by phone, by visiting their local DCBS office or submitting paper applications.

Enrollment for federally subsidized health insurance through Kynect has ended, except for life-changing events such as changes in family size (marriage, divorce or a new child), but Medicaid enrollment is open year-round.