25 million people lost Medicaid after the COVID-19 pandemic — and state policies shaped who stayed covered

Medicaid enrollment surged during the pandemic, then tumbled during the Great Unwinding – reflecting how paperwork and state policy determine who keeps health coverage.

By: Aparna Soni, Indiana University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 13, 2026

Words: 1,201

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Aparna Soni, Indiana University

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people covered by Medicaid rose month after month – an unusual pattern for the government’s insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities.

Why? A policy of continuous coverage during the pandemic essentially halted Medicaid disenrollment to make it easier for people to stay insured during the public health emergency. By early 2023, enrollment had reached an all-time high …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us