States Expand Medicaid After Post-Pandemic “Unwinding” 

By Consumers for Quality Care, on September 11, 2024

This year’s Medicaid redeterminations put health coverage at risk for millions of Americans. But as KFF Health News reports, some states chose to mitigate this risk by expanding Medicaid, protecting many consumers from experiencing a lapse in coverage. 

A federal emergency declaration enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented states from removing patients from the Medicaid rolls, even if they no longer met the program’s eligibility requirements. But last year, the federal emergency declaration expired, and states began to redetermine whether enrollees were still eligible. This process has caused 24 million Americans to be dropped from the program.  

But in states that expanded Medicaid – North Carolina, South Dakota, Oregon, and New Mexico – fewer consumers will lose coverage than would have otherwise. Experts note expanding Medicaid lowers the uninsured rate and helps consumers avoid medical debt. Jennifer Babcock, Senior Vice President for Medicaid Policy at the Association of Community Affiliated Plan, suggested that Medicaid expansion will help vulnerable populations the most. “The pandemic was destructive and concerning and clearly demonstrated that Medicaid is so crucially important for our national safety net,” said Babcock. “These expansions are incredibly meaningful.” 

Some states chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) while others extended Medicaid coverage beyond the federal guidelines. Many states have increased the income threshold for eligibility, allowing them to extend postpartum coverage from two months to one year and extend coverage to children older than age four.  

CQC urges lawmakers and regulators to ensure that consumers do not face any lapses in health care coverage because of Medicaid redeterminations. CQC also encourages states across the country to expand access to care for Americans.