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CONCORD, N.H. (WBZ NewsRadio) — New Hampshire is one of five states that will begin unenrolling millions of Americans from Medicaid coverage after the end of COVID-19 pandemic protections.
States have been barred from involuntarily kicking residents off Medicaid since March 2020, when Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The provision ended in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and South Dakota on April 1. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 16 states will follow in May, while the rest will follow through October. The CMS timeline shows the "unwinding" process starting in Massachusetts in June.
It is estimated that up to 15 million people are at risk of losing their health insurance, including those eligible to remain on Medicaid who do not complete the renewal process on time.
"People would lose Medicaid even though they’re still eligible because they haven’t filled out their paperwork in the time period they have to do so," said Dr. Avenel Joseph, Vice President for Policy with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Usually anywhere from 15 to 30 days."
WBZ's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.
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