Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Congress has prohibited states from processing Medicaid eligibility assessments. But, after all these years, the picture is different.
Medicaid eligibility screening has been underway since April 1 in some U.S. states.
How to apply for Medicaid? What is Medicaid? Or what are the differences between Medicaid and Medicare, were some of the questions that many have been asking for a long time. Now, however, the big concern is the possibility of millions of Americans losing Medicaid benefits.
Where does Medicaid end?
The states of Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire and South Dakota will be the first to suffer terminations. These will be followed by 14 more in May and 20 additional states, plus the District of Columbia, in June.
This is intended to have all states complete their terminations in the next 14 months although the number of people excluded, will be alarming.
According to U.S. government figures, an estimated 15 million people will be dropped from the medical program. This is equivalent to 1 in 6 of the 84 million on Medicaid.
However, others may be eligible, but may also be dropped for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete renewal forms when applying for Medicaid. A Georgetown analysis states that those at risk include at least 6.7 million children.
Why was this determination reached with Medicaid?
Between 2020 and 2022 Medicaid enrollment increased by 5 million people, which is why the Consolidated Appropriations Act was passed. In turn, this law directs states to reinstate the eligibility controls that were in place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To make matters worse, approximately 380,000 working adults will be severely affected because their incomes are too low to qualify for Obamacare. While they would be too high to remain in the Medicaid ranks. So these adults could be left in the middle ground without one or the other assistance.
Nearly 152000 residents enrolled in Medicaid in January, but more than 22000 appear to be currently ineligible. In this regard, the agency expressed that it will prioritize the review of those who are likely ineligible because they no longer meet various requirements.
That is, those who are ineligible will be terminated with a 10-day notice. For those who are eligible for expansion in July, they will be notified when they are disenrolled and sent a reminder in June.
Finally, amid all the discontent and concern, the agency encourages those ineligible to reapply. This would be after the Medicaid expansion goes into effect.
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