In Florida, over 1.3 million individuals have lost their health insurance as a result of a nationwide disenrollment process that commenced following the expiration of continuous coverage provisions established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enrollment in Florida's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fell from 5.1 million in March 2023 to approximately 3.8 million by October 2024, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

This decline in coverage raises concerns particularly for vulnerable populations, as many individuals face challenges in obtaining alternative insurance.

While some disenrolled individuals may transition to employer-sponsored plans or seek coverage through the healthcare marketplace, the significant drop increases the risk of uninsurance among low-income residents in the state.

Florida ranks fourth in the United States for the number of uninsured individuals under 65, according to Census Bureau data.

This statistic underscores the necessity for effective healthcare communication strategies and outreach efforts to mitigate the impact of these policy changes.

The continuous enrollment provision from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted in March 2020, allowed Medicaid enrollees to maintain coverage without needing to undergo regular eligibility checks.

However, the discontinuation of this policy in March 2023 initiated a series of eligibility re-evaluations, resulting in widespread disenrollments of individuals deemed ineligible or those who encountered barriers in renewing their coverage.

Since the initiation of the unwinding process, KFF reports that over 25 million individuals have been disenrolled nationwide, with approximately 56 million Americans having their coverage renewed.

The rate of disenrollment varies significantly by state, with Florida recording a rate of 38%, one of the highest in the country.

According to KFF, only 36% of losses in coverage in Florida were attributed to individuals failing to meet eligibility criteria, while 64% were categorized as procedural disenrollment issues.

Procedural disenrollment can arise from various factors, including failure to respond to mail notifications, changes in residence, misunderstanding of the complex redetermination process, and administrative errors.

In August 2023, concerns regarding procedural fairness were highlighted when two families filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging that their children’s Medicaid coverage was revoked without proper notification.

Advocacy groups, such as the Florida Health Justice Project, have documented numerous errors in eligibility determinations, further complicating the landscape for enrollees.

Lynn Hearn, the director of advocacy at the organization, noted last year the prevalence of such errors during their casework.

As of October 2023, Medicare and CHIP enrollment nationally is reported to be around 79.3 million, a decrease from a peak of 94.5 million earlier in the year but still exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.

KFF has indicated that disenrollments are expected to persist moving forward, underscoring the challenges many Americans face in navigating healthcare coverage during this transitional period.