Millions of Americans poised to lose Medicaid coverage on April 1


A rule instated during the COVID-19 pandemic that shielded people from losing their Medicaid coverage will expire Friday, NBC News reports, "putting millions of peoples' health insurance coverage at risk."
Previously, Medicaid recipients were required to renew their coverage yearly and would lose their coverage if they no longer qualified. But in 2020, lawmakers passed a rule "that kept people automatically enrolled in the government program, even if they no longer met the requirements for coverage." Up to 15 million people are at risk of losing their health coverage, per an estimate from the nonprofit research organization KFF. The number of people covered by Medicaid has surged by about one-third, "to 85 million as of late last year," since just before the pandemic, The Washington Post writes.
Beginning Saturday, April 1, states will be allowed to begin "unwinding" — "a process by which they will resume their annual Medicaid renewals and unenroll people who are no longer eligible for coverage," NBC News explains. While even the smallest gap in coverage can be "devastating," don't expect "a deluge of people" to lose their insurance immediately, Jennifer Tolbert, the associate director for the program on Medicaid and the uninsured at KFF, told NBC News. The unwinding period is expected to last about a year, as states reassess eligibility and send out renewal or termination notices, although some states will move faster, Tolbert said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, health officials and advocates are "bracing for what they say looms as the nation's biggest health-insurance disruption since the Affordable Care Act came into existence more than a decade ago," the Post says. A recent Department of Health and Human Services analysis predicts that 15 million people will lose Medicaid, and "an estimated 6.8 million of those beneficiaries will be removed even though they still are eligible," the outlet summarizes.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
May 24 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons feature Medicare and Medicaid cuts, James Comey's social media post, and Trump's big beautiful bill.
-
5 cartoons about the Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Cartoons Artists take on a stand-in for Vladimir Putin and phone calls with Donald Trump.
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive order
speed read The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts
-
RFK Jr.: A new plan for sabotaging vaccines
Feature The Health Secretary announced changes to vaccine testing and asks Americans to 'do your own research'
-
Protein obsession is oversaturating the health food space
Under the Radar Some experts say that fiber is now the most important macro to focus on
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
-
Measles outbreak spreads, as does RFK Jr.'s influence
Speed Read The outbreak centered in Texas has grown to at least three states and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting unproven treatments