The uninsured rate in the US reached a “record low” at 7.7%, but more than 25 million Americans lack health coverage. Millions of low-income Americans have lost Medicaid coverage gained during the pandemic as federal protections ended, leading to almost 3.8 million people being removed from Medicaid rolls. Three-quarters of those disenrolled had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as missing paperwork. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are monitoring the process, while some states have temporarily halted terminations to address renewal issues.
The uninsured rate in the United States hit a “record low” in March, with approximately 7.7% of Americans lacking health insurance, according to the latest health insurance survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, this “record low” uninsured rate, which still left over 25 million Americans without health coverage, has likely increased significantly. This is because the data do not account for the millions of low-income Americans who lost their Medicaid coverage that they had acquired during the pandemic.
During the pandemic, federal legislation provided states with additional funding for Medicaid, but only if they maintained continuous enrollment for program participants. Prior to the pandemic, people frequently moved in and out of Medicaid for various reasons, including earning too much or failing to provide necessary income or residency information. However, during the emergency period, changes in income or missed paperwork did not affect eligibility. If someone was enrolled in Medicaid in March 2020 or became eligible at any point during the pandemic, they remained eligible throughout.
Consequently, Medicaid enrollment increased by over 30%, covering more than 90 million individuals. However, Congress recently terminated these protections, allowing states to remove people from Medicaid since April. According to the health policy research group KFF, nearly 3.8 million Americans have been removed from Medicaid rolls as of Tuesday.
Among all states reporting, almost three-quarters of those disenrolled lost coverage due to “procedural reasons,” such as missing or incorrect paperwork or outdated contact information. It’s possible that these individuals are still eligible for Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are closely monitoring the disqualification process and encouraging state officials to proceed cautiously.
While some states, like Maine, have temporarily halted procedural terminations for certain enrollees to address issues in the renewal process, others continue to move forward with disenrollment.
