Several states across the nation have been raising concerns about the large numbers of Medicaid recipients that have been pushing out, leaving them at risk of running out of affordable healthcare options.
The pace of thousands of people who have been being unwound from Medicaid is accelerating because the U.S. government’s pandemic restrictions have been lifted. USA. that prevented people from withdrawing from this health insurance program. Despite being the only blue state in a mostly red group, which includes Idaho, Montana, Texas and Utah, Colorado has seen a significant drop in enrollment since spring 2023.
Colorado presents a remarkable peculiarity that has generated debates and criticism: It has all the necessary political ingredients to mitigate the consequences of the dismantling of Medicaid, according to KFF policy analysts.
However, in practice, these policies have not been enough to cushion the impact. Bethany Pray, legal and policy director at the Colorado Law and Policy Center, notes: “There really is a divide in Colorado between our progressive policies and our fragmented and underfunded administration.”
Colorado Sees a Drop in the Number of Medicaid Beneficiaries
During this dismantling process, Colorado has seen a net drop in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment greater than any other state except Utah, according to KFF data. The main problems, according to health care access advocates and county administrators, lie in outdated technology and low automatic renewal rates, which create obstacles that undermine the state’s progressive policies.
State officials in Colorado have said in recent consultations with news outlets that the reduction in beneficiary enrollment is indicative of “good performance” in enrolling people at the peak of the pandemic.
Others also attribute part of the decrease to the good economic health of the state, which would allow more people to obtain insurance through their jobs, completely privately and not having to resort to Medicaid health insurance, which is designed for people with fewer resources.
Kim Bimestefer, director of Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, said, “When we have a really stellar unemployment rate, there aren’t as many people who need social protection programs, and we’re proud of that. Our people are growing and thriving.”
Medicaid and the Colorado Economy: What’s the Truth?
Despite these claims, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that although Colorado’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average, it is still higher than before the pandemic. In addition, the KFF Health News analysis reveals that Medicaid enrollment fell even in counties where unemployment stagnated or increased, calling into question the direct correlation between employment and Medicaid need.
Colorado increased its Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment by 35% during the COVID-19 public health emergency, surpassing the national average of 30% among states that expanded Medicaid. Bimestefer defends that this growth explains the greater current reduction: “We grew more, which means, logically, that we are going to discharge more people.”
Guide for Those Unrolled from Medicaid in Colorado
Even though you are on the list of Medicaid unrolled in Colorado, you have rights that no one can violate. You should first check any correspondence from Medicaid or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Make sure there isn’t a clerical error in your unrolling and if so, move forward to request a review.
If you believe that you have been expelled from the program by mistake, immediately request a review of your case. You can contact the Colorado Medicaid Office to start this process.
Review the updated Medicaid eligibility criteria. You may still qualify under different parameters. If there are changes in your income or family circumstances, let them know.
If your request for review is denied, you still have every right to appeal and request a hearing. Prepare all the relevant documentation that supports your case. If you can’t overpass this instance, well, anyway you can still prepare for the next Medicaid enrollment period, or even the special enrollment options when there were changes in your life, such as lost of a job, or a child’s birth.
