Medicaid disenrollment is now possible after the federal government lifted the ban on removing people from the program during the pandemic. As per NPR, states are beginning the process of assessing nearly 100 million Americans in the low-income bracket to determine who qualifies for coverage. But it is still expected that millions of qualified Americans may be kicked off the rolls.
Protest Against Medicaid Disenrollment. (Photo: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Medicaid Enrollment Increased During the Pandemic
The number of Americans enrolled in Medicaid has increased significantly since March 2020, following the passing of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This bill prevented states from removing people from coverage, and in return, Congress increased the federal Medicaid match rates by 6.2 percentage points.
According to CNN, this provision was only tied to the national public health emergency, but it was later changed as part of the federal spending bill that was passed in December. Now, states can begin conducting terminations in April and will receive an enhanced federal match throughout the rest of the year, with the match rate phasing down over time.
As of December 2020, there were more than 92 million American citizens who had joined Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which shows a rise of 31% compared to the statistics of February 2020. While Medicaid enrollment has increased significantly, it remains to be seen how the phasing down of the enhanced federal match rate will affect enrollment levels in the future.
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What to Do to Decrease the Chances of Medicaid Disenrollment
As states began their assessment for Medicaid redetermination, there are still some things people can do to reduce their chances of getting kicked out of the program. As per NBC News, people should make sure that their addresses are up-to-date and their information is complete.
Also, keep an eye out for Medicaid application materials in the mail or email, as well as make sure to complete the renewal application before the state’s deadline.
But those who will lose their Medicaid coverage, are eligible to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They will receive instructions along with their termination notice from Medicaid.
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