19 Million Americans Taken Off Medicaid—but Many Could Still Be Eligible

Over 19 million people are estimated to have been taken off of Medicaid after broader eligibility granted during the coronavirus pandemic expired—but many who were disenrolled may still be eligible for the health program.

Analysis of government data by health policy research organization KFF found that, as of March 26, around 20 percent of the total number of individuals enrolled on either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) had seen their coverage removed, while 36 percent still had renewals pending.

As of December, official figures showed that nearly 14 million people had been disenrolled, with a further 13 million pending—suggesting around 5.5 million people have lost their coverage so far this year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says that around 17 million people lose eligibility every year.

In 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act required states to continue covering people enrolled in Medicaid through the end of the pandemic, and granted federal funding to cover this.

However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 unlinked the two, meaning continuous enrolment ended on March 31, 2023. States were given until March 31 this year to return to normal processing operations in which they can terminate coverage for people no longer deemed eligible.

KFF noted that disenrollment rates varied widely from state to state, ranging from 57 percent of previous participants being removed in Utah to just 12 percent in Maine.

Many people who may still qualify have not had their coverage renewed, though, because they did not complete paperwork correctly or in time, or state authorities had outdated contact details.

Overall, around 70 percent of people who were taken off Medicaid or CHIP had their coverage discontinued due to these procedural reasons.

“High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage,” the health research group said.

Deanna Williams, an enrollment assister at non-profit Georgians for a Healthy Future, told local news outlet WABE on Monday that many of the people she works with were finding out they had lost coverage during visits to the doctor or pharmacy.

“That means they may be without medication for a week or two, or sometimes a month, depending on how long this process is,” she said. Georgia has reportedly taken steps to notify people at risk of losing coverage, and those who are cut off have the ability to appeal.

According to KFF’s analysis, the proportion of disenrollments due to procedural issues was highest in Nevada—93 percent—while in Georgia it was 84 percent. The lowest proportion of disenrollments for this reason, 22 percent, was in Maine.

The issue has been noted as a particular concern for children and those with complex health conditions that require continuous access to medical help.

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel on March 27, Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services secretary, said that children in Florida have “without a doubt” lost coverage due to paperwork-related delays, adding that he had written to governors about the issue.

“Denying that child those services is not just unconscionable, it’s a nightmare for the family,” he said.

In Florida, disenrollment due to procedural reasons accounted for 19 percent of all completed renewal applications—though nearly two thirds of U.S. states had higher proportions of disenrollment for this reason.

Among the 21 states that gave age breakdowns, children accounted for 37 percent of Medicaid disenrollments, though this was higher in states such as Texas and Kansas, where they comprised 64 percent and half, respectively.