On March 18, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was implemented, which included important provisions related to state Medicaid programs. One of these provisions required states to keep people enrolled in Medicaid in order to receive additional federal funding. This measure, known as continuous enrollment, was in effect for three years and ended on March 31, 2023.
Once continuous enrollment came to an end, states had the ability to resume de-enrolling people in Medicaid who no longer met eligibility requirements or who did not complete the renewal process as of April 1, 2023. This cancellation process is commonly referred to as “Medicaid unwinding.”
What Happened to Those Disenrolled from Medicaid?
According to state tracking conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), more than 20 million people have been terminated from Medicaid since this process began. To better understand the experiences of people affected by these cancellations, the KFF interviewed 1,227 American adults who were enrolled in Medicaid before April 1, 2023. The results of these interviews offer a detailed look at the financial and health impacts faced by people who lost their Medicaid coverage or had to look for other sources of medical coverage.
One of the key findings of the research was that about one in five Medicaid enrollees interviewed was discharged from coverage at some point in 2023, and about a quarter of them remain uninsured. Although some managed to re-enroll in Medicaid or find another form of coverage, the loss of coverage raised significant concerns both in terms of physical and mental health. Most of those affected reported missing or delaying getting medical services or prescriptions due to difficulty renewing their coverage.
Rising Medicaid Costs Affects Access to Healthcare
The report also notes that costs are a major barrier for those trying to get another form of health coverage. Many of the interviewees expressed concern about the payment of monthly premiums and the costs of medical services, reflecting a widespread concern about the financial accessibility of medical care.
In addition, significant difficulties were identified during the Medicaid renewal process for those who tried to re-enroll. Problems such as long waiting times at call centers, lack of clarity about the necessary documents and difficulties with Internet access to complete online forms were common among respondents. These challenges contributed to many people experiencing difficulty renewing their Medicaid coverage effectively.
Beyond the massive disenrollment, there are significant regional differences in terms of Medicaid eligibility and access. States that have not expanded Medicaid have stricter income requirements and may require proof of residency or other documents during the renewal process. This can further complicate the situation for those who rely on Medicaid to access health care.
What to Do if You Were Disenrolled from Medicaid?
The process to re-enroll on Medicaid will depend on each person’s specific situation. Here I provide a detailed explanation of the possible reasons and general steps to reapply:
- Annual re-enrollment: In most cases, Medicaid requires beneficiaries to re-enroll annually to verify their continued eligibility. This involves providing up-to-date information on income and other relevant data. Usually, this process can be done by submitting a new income verification or updating household information. You can re-apply through your state’s Medicaid agency website or by calling them directly.
- Unwinding due to COVID-19: As explained above, during the coronavirus pandemic, some states took steps to relax Medicaid eligibility requirements, allowing more people to access coverage. However, as these temporary measures are phased out, some people lost their coverage if they no longer meet the standard eligibility requirements. You can go ahead and check with the state Medicaid agency to see if there are grace periods or specific procedures to regain coverage in this situation.
Visit the official website of your state’s Medicaid agency for detailed information about eligibility requirements, the re-enrollment process, and any recent policy changes due to the pandemic. There’s always an option for you on www.healthcare.gov.
