Why You Might Lose Your Medicaid Coverage in 2023
During the pandemic, Congress effectively prevented states from excluding people from Medicaid, the national public health insurance program for low-income people. This resulted in a record number of enrollments in the last two years. But now the passage of a $1.7 trillion comprehensive package by Congress means that millions of people who signed up for Medicaid during the pandemic risk losing coverage in 2023. Here’s what you need to know about the Medicaid eligibility criteria and what you can do to minimize the chance of losing coverage.
Why You Might Lose Your Medicaid Coverage
Under a $1.7 trillion funding bill, Congress is removing Medicaid enrollment protections in response to COVID. Starting April 1, states can begin reviewing individual eligibility and ending coverage for those who do not qualify for pre-pandemic Medicaid . States are required to inform applicants if they are about to lose coverage.
The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about 15 million people will lose their Medicaid coverage after deductions begin in April. Some important context: CNBC explains that losing Medicaid coverage doesn’t necessarily mean losing all health insurance, as many will switch to other sources of coverage. For those who are losing Medicaid because their income is either rising or falling outside the program parameters, you are more likely to switch to coverage in the Affordable Care Act markets.
What can you do if you still qualify
If you are a Medicaid recipient and notice that your income has increased during the pandemic, you may no longer qualify and be excluded from your state. Read the Medicaid guidelines for your state here .
Unfortunately, many still-eligible Americans are at risk of being disenrolled from Medicaid because they don’t get a renewal notice, fail to provide government-required paperwork, or they don’t file by the due date. The most important thing you can do is make sure your state’s Medicaid office has up-to-date and accurate contact information so you don’t lose coverage due to some sort of bureaucratic issue.