While 25 million Americans have lost their Medicaid eligibility as a result of the post-pandemic “Medicaid unwinding” process, enrollment in the program today exceeds its pre-COVID level.

Currently, Medicaid enrollment nationwide is 10 million more than it was in February of 2020, right before COVID struck.

In all, 56 million people have had their Medicaid eligibility renewed while 25 million people were removed from the program’s rolls.

The current situation varies from state to state; some states have seen enrollment rise while others have experienced enrollment declines.  In some states, the status of enrollment gains and losses differs between adults and children.

Medicaid eligibility is a major concern for community safety-net hospitals such as those that are part of the Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals because the areas they serve generally have more low-income residents than the typical American community.  As a result, these hospitals are more dependent on public programs like Medicaid and Medicare to serve them.

Learn more about Medicaid enrollment in the pandemic’s aftermath from the Kaiser Family Foundation report “An Examination of Medicaid Renewal Outcomes and Enrollment Changes at the End of the Unwinding” and this news release summarizing the report.