BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Over 40,000 kids and 125,000 Louisiana residents have lost their Medicaid health insurance coverage after a disenrollment process nationwide.
According to data from the KFF, a Medicaid enrollment tracker, over 7.1 million people across the nation have lost their Medicaid as of Sept. 20.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed, allowing citizens to continuously enroll in Medicaid. Around March 2023, the Consolidated Appropriations Act ended continuous enrollment. During the unwinding process, millions were expected to lose their Medicaid coverage. Though many would become unenrolled, they may still be eligible to re-apply for Medicaid.
In Louisiana, the disenrollment process began in July 2023. About 26% of residents lost coverage due to not renewing their coverage, 62% renewed their coverage, 9% were ruled ineligible to renew, and 3% applications are pending.
Medicaid is healthcare coverage for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly people, and the disabled.
