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​MA Recipient Communications

When the Medical Assistance (MA) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) continuous coverage period ends, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will conduct MA and CHIP renewals for all recipients. These will take place over 12 months, and all households will have the opportunity to renew. 

Renewal communications will:

  • Go directly to recipients, based on the address they have provided to DHS,
  • Help recipients complete their renewal when it is time to do so, and
  • To ensure recipients have all the information they need to maintain coverage through MA/CHIP/Pennie

These communications will occur over a period of three to four months around the recipient’s renewal date. 

90 Days Before the Renewal Date

60-30 Days Before the Renewal Date

30 Days Before Renewal Date

After MA Renewal Has Been Processed

Special Communications


90 Days before the Renewal Date

CM 537

CM 537

The CM 537 is a flyer sent to Medical Assistance (MA) and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients 90 days ahead of their renewal.  This flyer encourages the household to report relevant changes and to sign up to receive electronic communications (texts and emails) from DHS. Additionally, if individuals sign up to receive texts and emails, they will have an added layer of communication to remind them when important action needs to be taken on their case. 

Download PDF:
English  |  Spanish

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MA and CHIP Recipient Email 1

Email 1 is an email sent to MA and CHIP recipients 90 days ahead of their renewal.  This email asks recipients to report any updates to their contact information with DHS.

Download PDF:
English | Spanish

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MA and CHIP Recipient Text 1

Text 1 is a text message sent to MA and CHIP recipients 90 days ahead of their renewal. This text message is a call to action for recipients to report any updates to their contact information with DHS.

Download JPG:English | Spanish
English Text: "Is your contact information up to date with DHS? Don’t miss important info about your benefits. Update your information at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS."
Spanish Text: "¿Está actualizada su información de contacto con el DHS? No see pierda información importante sobre sus beneficios. Actualice su información en dhs.pa.gov/compass."

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MA and CHIP Recipient Helper Call 1

Helper Call 1 is a blast calling campaign message sent to MA and CHIP recipients 90 days ahead of their renewal. These calls encourage recipients to report any updates to their contact information with DHS and to sign up for electronic communications (text and emails).


60-30 Days Before the Renewal Date

thumbnail of targeted mailing 1Updated: 10/5/2023

MA and CHIP Recipient Targeted Mailing 1

Targeted Mailing 1 is a letter that will be sent to all MA and CHIP recipients after the CM 537 but before they receive their renewal packet. This letter prompts recipients to complete their renewal and includes instructions on the several ways to complete their renewal. 

Download: English | Spanish  | Arabic | Cambodian | Chinese | Nepali | Russian | Vietnamese

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MA and CHIP Recipient Email 2

Email 2 is an email that will be sent to all MA and CHIP recipients after the CM 537 but before they receive their renewal packet. This email is a call to action for recipients to complete their renewal and includes instructions on the several ways to complete their renewal. 

Download: English PDF | Spanish PDF

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MA and CHIP Recipient Text 2

Text 2 is a text message that will be sent to all MA and CHIP recipients after the CM 537 but before they receive their renewal packet. This text message asks recipients to complete their renewal and points them to COMPASS or the Consumer Service Center to renew online or over the phone. 

Download JPG:English | Spanish
English Text: "Your Medical Assistance and/or CHIP renewal is due. Your health care coverage matters. Complete your renewal now at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-550-4355."
Spanish Text: "Su renovación de Asistencia Médica o CHIP está vencida. Su cobertura de atención médica es importante. Complete su renovación ahora en dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS o por teléfono al 1-866-550-4355."

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MA and CHIP Recipient Helper Call 2 

Helper Call 2 is a blast calling campaign message that will be sent to all MA and CHIP recipients after the CM 537 but before they receive their renewal packet. These calls encourage recipients to complete their renewal and points them to COMPASS or the Consumer Service Center to renew online or over the phone.


30 Days Before Renewal Date (Month before Renewal Date)

USPS mail icon

MA and CHIP Recipient Renewal Packet

The renewal packet is an envelope that contains the renewal and associated forms.  The renewal packet and any verifications should be returned to the county assistance office (CAO) or submitted online by the due date listed within the packet. 

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Text Nudge 1

Text Nudge 1 is a text message that lets MA and CHIP recipients know that their renewal has been mailed and requires action.

English Text: "Your renewal packet has been mailed to you. Please be aware that the renewal packet will take several days to arrive in the mail. Please note that you can use a computer to log in to your MyCOMPASS account and complete your renewal today."

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Text Nudge 2

Text Nudge 2 is a text message that reminds MA and CHIP recipients that their renewal is due in 5 days. 

English Text: "Your renewal is due in 5 days. Please use a computer to log in to your MyCOMPASS account to complete your renewal today. You can also complete your renewal packet and mail it back to your CAO with the provided pre-paid envelope." 


After MA Renewal Has Been Processed

USPS mail icon

MA and CHIP Recipient Benefit Notice

The benefit notice is an official notice letting MA and CHIP recipients know the eligibility result of their processed renewal. If individuals in a household are ineligible for MA and/or CHIP and all required information was used to process the renewal, they will receive a referral to Pennie, the official state marketplace for health insurance options. Information about this referral will be included in a separate letter included with the notice.  If a household was ineligible because they failed to return the renewal or other necessary documentation, they will not receive a referral to Pennie. These individuals will receive MA and CHIP Recipient Targeted Mailing 2 and the Pennie Mailing below.

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MA and CHIP Recipient Targeted Mailing 2

Targeted Mailing 2 is a letter to households with individuals in which MA or CHIP closed due to failure to submit the renewal or required verifications by the due date. Targeted Mailing 2 is an educational mailing informing recipients that they can still submit their renewal or verification to DHS for reconsideration of their medical benefits within 90 days of the closure with no lapse in coverage.

Download PDF: English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese | Nepali |Russian | Vietnamese

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Pennie Mailing

Pennie will be sending a letter to recipients in which MA or CHIP closed due to failure to submit the renewal or required verifications by the due date. The Pennie Mailing is an educational mailing informing recipients that Pennie is a source for affordable medical coverage. If an individual submits an application to Pennie for coverage and their application reflects eligibility for MA or CHIP, the application will be forwarded to DHS for processing as a part of our open-door application process.


Special Communications

PA Medi

PA Medi - Medicare Coverage

The "PA Medi letter" is sent to households to inform them that Pennsylvanians age 65 and older can signup for Medicare. The letter outlines what is covered under Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D, and it outlines when and how to enroll in the various parts.

Download PDF: English | Spanish







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