Massive Medicaid Coverage Error Affects Half a Million Americans
Nearly 500,000 people, including many children, will regain Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage after state officials discovered major errors in their procedures for reviewing program eligibility. The errors occurred when states conducted eligibility checks using software that incorrectly vetted statuses, resulting in the improper disenrollment of individuals. The Biden administration ordered states to halt procedural disenrollments and fix the errors. The unwinding of Medicaid enrollment has had catastrophic consequences, with over seven million people losing coverage since the enrollment requirement ended in April. The restoration of coverage will help strengthen access to Medicaid in the long term.