In response, a couple of weeks later the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement about the actions they're taking to resolve the issue,
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), approved section 1115 demonstration amendments that allow, for the first time ever, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of traditional health care practices provided by Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, Tribal facilities, and urban Indian organizations (UIO). Today’s action is expected to improve access to culturally appropriate health care and improve the quality of care and health outcomes for tribal communities in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon, and will support IHS, Tribal, and UIO facilities in serving their patients.
In May 2024, 80,855,947 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, a decrease of 840,795 individuals (1.0%) from April 2024.
73,793,274 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in May 2024, a decrease of 846,948 individuals (1.1%) from April 2024.
7,062,673 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in May 2024, an increase of 6,153 individuals (0.1%) from April 2024.
As of May 2024, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has decreased by 13,012,059 individuals (13.9%) since March 2023, the final month of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Medicaid enrollment has decreased by 12,937,285 individuals (14.9%).
CHIP enrollment has decreased by 74,774 individuals (1.0%).
Between February 2020 and March 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 23,023,434 individuals (32.5%) to 93,868,006.
Medicaid enrollment increased by 22,681,263 individuals (35.4%).
CHIP enrollment increased by 342,171 individuals (5.0%)
Normally, states will review (or "redetermine") whether people enrolled in Medicaid or the CHIP program are still eligible to be covered by it on a monthly (or in some cases, quarterly, I believe) basis.
However, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed by Congress at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, included a provision requiring state Medicaid programs to keep people enrolled through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). In return, states received higher federal funding to the tune of billions of dollars.
As a result, there are tens of millions of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees who didn't have their eligibility status redetermined for as long as three years.
The Biden-Harris Administration today continued its historic investment in health care coverage and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by awarding a new round of $100 million to organizations vital to helping underserved communities, consumers, and small businesses find and enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace®.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is awarding the grants, in advance of this year’s Marketplace Open Enrollment (which begins November 1, 2024) to 44 Navigator grantees in states using HealthCare.gov. The grants are part of a commitment of up to $500 million over five years — the longest grant period and financial commitment to date, and a critical boost for recruiting trusted local organizations to better connect with those who often face barriers to obtaining health care coverage.
In April 2024, 81,696,742 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, a decrease of 1,060,543 individuals (1.3%) from March 2024.
74,640,222 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in April 2024, a decrease of 1,011,238 individuals (1.3%) from March 2024.
7,056,520 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in April 2024, a decrease of 49,305 individuals (0.7%) from March 2024.
As of April 2024, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has decreased by 12,171,264 individuals (13.0%) since March 2023, the final month of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Medicaid enrollment has decreased by 12,090,337 individuals (13.9%).
CHIP enrollment has decreased by 80,927 individuals (1.1%).
Between February 2020 and March 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 23,023,434 individuals (32.5%) to 93,868,006.
Medicaid enrollment increased by 22,681,263 individuals (35.4%).
CHIP enrollment increased by 342,171 individuals (5.0%).
Normally, states will review (or "redetermine") whether people enrolled in Medicaid or the CHIP program are still eligible to be covered by it on a monthly (or in some cases, quarterly, I believe) basis.
However, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed by Congress at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, included a provision requiring state Medicaid programs to keep people enrolled through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). In return, states received higher federal funding to the tune of billions of dollars.
As a result, there are tens of millions of Medicaid/CHIP enrollees who didn't have their eligibility status redetermined for as long as three years.
In March 2024, 82,751,338 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, a decrease of 636,453 individuals (0.8%) from February 2024.
75,645,578 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in March 2024, a decrease of 644,997 individuals (0.8%) from February 2024.
7,105,760 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in March 2024, an increase of 8,544 individuals (0.1%) from February 2024.
As of March 2024, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has decreased by 11,116,668 individuals (11.8%) since March 2023, the final month of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
Medicaid enrollment has decreased by 11,084,981 individuals (12.8%).
CHIP enrollment has decreased by 31,687 individuals (0.4%).
Between February 2020 and March 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 23,023,434 individuals (32.5%) to 93,868,006.
Medicaid enrollment increased by 22,681,263 individuals (35.4%).
CHIP enrollment increased by 342,171 individuals (5.0%).
While it's unfortunate that neither 2014 nor 2015 were included, I have partial data for the first two years of the ACA exchanges from a similar post I put together back in 2019.
It's important to understand the difference between someone selecting a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) from one of the ACA exchanges during the Open Enrollment Period and someone actually being enrolled in an effectuated policy...that is, just because you sign your family up for a policy on HealthCare.Gov or a state-based exchange, you aren't considered effectuated until you actually pay your first monthly premium.
While nearly 21.5 million Americans selected Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) via the federal and state ACA exchanges/marketplaces during the official 2024 Open Enrollment Period (along with an additional 1.3 million signing up for a Basic Health Plan (BHP) program in New York & Minnesota, which CMS continues to inexplicably treat as an afterthought in such reports), not all of them actually pay their first monthly premium (for January) for various reasons:
