Most States End Medicaid Unwinding With Higher Total Enrollment Than Pre-COVID

More than 25 million people lost their Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage and over 56 million had their coverage renewed during the Medicaid eligibility redetermination process, according to a KFF analysis of data released by states and CMS. Though millions have been disenrolled, nearly 10 million more people are currently enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP than at the start of the pandemic. 

Starting in April 2023, states were permitted to resume disenrolling people from Medicaid who no longer qualify after a multiyear pause of routine eligibility checks during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, total Medicaid/CHIP enrollment is now higher in all but four states: Colorado, Montana, Arkansas and Tennessee. Missouri and North Carolina saw Medicaid/CHIP enrollment growth of more than 50%, as of May 2024.