Millions Losing Medicaid During “Unwinding” of Pandemic Era Policy

Approximately ¼ of the U.S. population that was enrolled in Medicaid prior to the pandemic have since lost coverage. The federal ban under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) placed on disenrolling Medicaid beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic was lifted in March 2023, freeing states to reexamine whether current enrollees continue to satisfy eligibility requirements – resulting in disenrollment of more than 20 million people. Unable to afford or qualify for coverage elsewhere, many former Medicaid beneficiaries have now been added to the ranks of the uninsured. Not surprisingly, minorities and children – the latter of which comprise nearly ½ of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees – are disproportionately impacted by this policy shift. Some states ostensibly claim that loss of coverage in many instances is due to procedural issues, such as failure to submit required paperwork, including proof of residency.