Update: Awareness of the Resumption of Medicaid Renewal Processes Remained Low in December 2022

As many as 18 million people could lose Medicaid coverage during the upcoming public health emergency unwinding.

The Issue

With less than two months until states will be allowed to return to regular Medicaid renewal processes and disenroll individuals who no longer qualify for the program, 64 percent of adults in a Medicaid-enrolled family reported having no awareness that they may lose coverage.

Key Findings

• When compared to survey results from June 2022, the percent of adults reporting they had heard nothing at all about the return to regular Medicaid renewal processes ticked upward by about 2 percent (62% in June vs. 64.3% in December).
• Awareness was low across the country regardless of geographic region or whether or not the state has expanded Medicaid eligibility:
  
  • Lack of awareness was above 60 percent in the Northeast (66.5%), Midwest (67.6%), South (63.4%), and West (61.3%).
    
  • Lack of awareness was also above 60 percent in both Medicaid expansion states (64.5%) and non-expansion (63.7%) states.
    

Conclusion

Awareness of the impending resumption of Medicaid renewals remains low across the country. States and the federal government can help mitigate coverage loss by raising awareness that many families will soon need to take steps to maintain or find new health coverage.

About the Urban Institute

The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.