In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans are facing the consequences of the bumpy Medicaid unwinding that has been unfolding across the country over the past year. A recent survey conducted by the health research organization KFF sheds light on the struggles faced by tens of millions of individuals in retaining coverage in the government insurance program for low-income people as pandemic-era protections expire.

According to the survey released on April 12, nearly a quarter of adults disenrolled from Medicaid, around 23%, reported being uninsured. This alarming figure highlights the dire consequences of losing Medicaid coverage, as individuals are forced to delay seeking necessary medical care and face potential financial risks.

One such case is Indira Navas of Miami, who discovered that her 6-year-old son, Andres, had been disenrolled from Florida's Medicaid program when she took him for a doctor appointment in March. The frustrating part is that Navas' daughter, Camila, 12, remains covered by Medicaid, even though the children live in the same household. Navas expressed her confusion, stating, "It doesn't make sense that they would cover one of my children and not the other."

The KFF survey found that nearly half of those who lost their government coverage, approximately 48%, ended up reenrolling weeks or months later, implying that they should never have been dropped in the first place. Additionally, 28% of individuals disenrolled from Medicaid managed to find alternative coverage through an employer, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplace, or health care for members of the military.

The process of renewing Medicaid coverage has proven to be difficult and stressful for many. About 35% of adults attempting to renew their coverage experienced obstacles, while 48% described the process as at least somewhat stressful. Disturbingly, 56% of those disenrolled reported that they had to skip or delay necessary care or prescriptions during their efforts to renew their Medicaid coverage.

The unwinding of Medicaid is not limited to adults. While the survey did not include children, it is known that nearly half of enrollees in Medicaid and the related Children's Health Insurance Program are children. The impact on the overall U.S. uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 7.7% earlier this year, remains unknown.

Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program experienced substantial growth, reaching almost 94.5 million in April last year. However, states are now reassessing the eligibility of millions of Americans who enrolled before or during the pandemic, resulting in the disenrollment of approximately 20 million people within the past year. This number is expected to increase as states continue to redetermine the eligibility of enrollees in the coming months.

The KFF survey found that 83% of adults who had Medicaid prior to the unwinding retained or reenrolled in their coverage. However, 8% of individuals found alternative insurance, while another 8% remained uninsured. Notably, the percentage of those left uninsured was higher in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

One significant issue identified in the survey was the lack of communication between states and enrollees. Many individuals discovered that they had been dropped from Medicaid only when they sought health care services, such as a doctor's visit or a visit to the pharmacy. State call centers have struggled to support enrollees due to the overwhelming volume of redeterminations for eligibility.

The extent of the Medicaid unwinding's impact on the uninsured rate and the well-being of millions of Americans is yet to be fully understood. The survey reveals the urgent need for improved processes, communication, and support for those navigating the complexities of Medicaid enrollment and renewal.

As the nation continues to recover from the pandemic, it is crucial to ensure that individuals and families have access to necessary health care coverage without unnecessary hurdles.