XPost: tx.politics, alt.health, sac.politics
XPost: talk.politics.misc

Texas has removed millions of residents from health-care programs as
part of a national "unwinding" process that began after the end of the
COVID-19 public health emergency.

According to new data from health policy research non-profit the Kaiser
Family Foundation (KFF), Texas leads the nation in Medicaid and
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) disenrollments, with over 1.7 million people having had their coverage terminated between March 2023
and October 2024.

While some individuals may transition to employer-sponsored plans or the Affordable Care Act marketplace, health advocates have warned that many—especially children and low-income families—could be deprived of insurance altogether.

Why It Matters
The high level of post-pandemic disenrollments raises concerns about health-care coverage gaps for America's more vulnerable populations.

Texas already suffers from the highest uninsured rate in the country,
Axios reported in August, citing Census Bureau data, and these cuts
could push this higher, putting additional pressure on hospitals,
emergency services, as well as the individuals and families left without coverage.

While the unwinding process is meant to ensure only eligible individuals
remain on Medicaid, the sheer scale of coverage losses suggests that
many may be falling through the cracks.

What to Know
The continuous enrollment provision, passed by Congress as part of the
Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March 2020, required states
to ensure coverage for enrollees during the pandemic, who were spared
the need to go through regular eligibility redeterminations.

The policy ended on March 31, 2023, with eligibility checks and
disenrollments recommencing for those who were either ineligible, or
whose redetermination could not be completed due to administrative hurdles.

Since the unwinding process began, over 25 million million people have
been disenrolled from CHIP and Medicaid, according to KFF.

Texas' high rate has been linked to the state's strict eligibility
reviews and procedural issues, as well as many Texans failing to file
renewal paperwork or encountering bureaucratic barriers.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, states have
displayed "extreme delays in processing new applications in some states;
many of these applications are from people who lost coverage during
their renewal."

While some individuals may transition to employer-sponsored plans or the Affordable Care Act marketplace, health advocates warn that
many—especially children and low-income families—could be left without
any insurance.

What People Are Saying
Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
last March warned of the "substantial risk" of Medicaid disenrollment on children, those aged 65 and above, and those with disabilities.

"Coverage loss for these vulnerable individuals may be mitigated by
state policies to enhance accessibility of Medicaid platforms,
prioritize access to patient navigators, and simplify non-[ modified
adjusted gross income] redetermination protocols," the authors wrote.

Health care analysts at the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright in June said
that the mass disenrollment process had resulted in a "ripple effect
across the healthcare industry," as uninsured individuals are forced to
seek care through other parts of the health-care system.

What Happens Next?
KFF estimated in April 2023 that between 8 million and 24 million people
would lose coverage as a result of the unwinding process, including up
to 6.8 million who likely remain eligible but encounter administrative challenges in renewing their coverage.

"Efforts to conduct outreach, education and provide enrollment
assistance can help ensure that those who remain eligible for Medicaid
are able to retain coverage and those who are no longer eligible can
transition to other sources of coverage," KFF said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/texas-removes-1-7m-people-from-health-care-plan/ar-AA1yAwk4

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