Preparing for the Medicaid “Unwinding”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local Medicaid agencies have been required to provide continuous coverage for people eligible for Medicaid until the end of the public health emergency. The continuous coverage requirement has meant historic gains in enrollment in Medicaid, with a record number of individuals and families being provided coverage and access to health care through Medicaid. When the public health emergency ends, millions of Americans on Medicaid will have their eligibility reviewed, a process known as the “unwinding.” As eligibility redeterminations take place, it is anticipated that many will lose their coverage through Medicaid; some will lose coverage because they are no longer eligible, others may lose their coverage even if they are eligible if their paperwork does not get processed in a timely manner or a variety of other reasons. This panel will discuss the potential impact of the Medicaid unwinding and what state agencies, advocates, and community organizations are doing to help minimize losses or gaps in Medicaid coverage.