XPost: alt.california, alt.business.insurance, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
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   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   Since the expiration of COVID-19 related health care guarantees, public   
   insurance coverage in California has dropped by over 850,000.   
      
   The nationwide "disenrollment," or "unwinding," process that began last   
   year has seen Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)   
   enrollment in the Golden State fall from around 14.3 million to just over   
   13.4 million over the 18 months leading up to October 2024, according to   
   KFF, a health policy research nonprofit.   
      
   Why It Matters   
   The change in California's enrollment rate (6 percent) is less drastic   
   than that seen in other similarly populous states such as Florida and   
   Texas. KFF research shows that its overall disenrollment rate—the number   
   of those who were unable to renew coverage after being disenrolled—of 19   
   percent, sits below the national average of 31 percent.   
      
   However, the high figure still raises concerns about the health care of   
   nearly 1 million Californians. Studies have also found that many   
   disenrollments occurred not due to a lack of eligibility, but rather   
   confusion around the post-COVID unwinding process, state failures to   
   communicate these details to individuals, as well as procedural issues   
   that prevented many from renewing their coverage.   
      
   What To Know   
   The "continuous enrollment" provision was included in The Families First   
   Coronavirus Response Act, passed in early 2020, and ensured that states   
   could not withdraw Medicaid and CHIP coverage from individuals during the   
   course of the coronavirus health emergency.   
      
   Redeterminations were put on pause until March 2023, leading to a sharp 13   
   million increase in the number of those receiving public health care.   
      
   However, in the months following the expiry of continuous enrollment, KFF   
   surveys revealed that many individuals did not understand the implications   
   of the unwinding process. Researchers also discovered that delays,   
   administrative errors and other "procedural issues" had resulted in many   
   being unable to complete redeterminations in time to renew their coverage.   
      
   There is wide variance in disenrollment rates between states, owing to a   
   number of factors. KFF noted early on in the unwinding process that states   
   such as Pennsylvania had flagged enrollees as "likely ineligible" in order   
   to expedite their de-enrollment following the expiration of the COVID-era   
   protections.   
      
   Other states, California included, made attempts to build upon the   
   expansion in coverage seen during COVID through ex parte, or auto-renewal   
   initiatives, which drastically reduced the number of those who lost out on   
   health care for to the "procedural reasons" KFF describes.   
      
   As a result, while some 850,000 have lost their public health care since   
   March 2023, this figure is far lower than some previous estimates.   
   Additionally, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP remains over 1.8 million (16   
   percent) higher than in February 2020.   
      
   What People Are Saying   
   Ben Anderson, deputy senior director of health policy at Families USA, a   
   health care-focused consumer advocacy group, told KFF Health News in   
   September: "We have seen some amazing coverage expansion in places like   
   Oregon and California. But if you live in Texas, Florida, and Georgia,   
   since the pandemic your health coverage has been disrupted in ways that   
   were preventable by state leaders."   
      
   What Happens Next?   
   The unwinding process has largely come to an end, according to KFF, though   
   it said some states may still be completing determinations for Medicaid   
   eligibility.   
      
   https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/california-removes-850-000-people-   
   from-health-care-plan/ar-AA1z6y7u   
      
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