Unwinding of Medicaid Continuous Enrollment: Key Themes from the Field

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, states kept people continuously enrolled in Medicaid in exchange for enhanced federal funding. With the end of continuous enrollment on March 31, 2023, states began the process of redetermining eligibility for all Medicaid enrollees and disenrolling those who are no longer eligible or whose eligibility could not be determined – a process commonly referred to as “unwinding.” KFF survey data show that despite outreach, as of early November more than one-third (36%) of Medicaid enrollees had heard nothing at all about unwinding. As of January 2024, states had renewal outcomes for more than four in ten enrollees with over 14 million people disenrolled and more than 27 million reenrolled in Medicaid coverage. Data are important to help monitor how unwinding is going across states, but trackers and dashboards only tell part of the unwinding story. Medicaid eligibility is complex, and outcomes are the result of federal and state policy decisions but also the result of how those policies are implemented and how well eligibility and other systems work.

Leading up to unwinding, the federal government issued guidance and provided states with the option to adopt a range of new policies to help promote continuity of coverage (in Medicaid for those who remain eligible or though other coverage for those who are no longer eligible). States have been engaged in unprecedented levels of new outreach, but the volume of redeterminations coupled with workforce shortages and systems issues present challenges. Focus groups with enrollees revealed that while many have been able to successfully renew Medicaid coverage, many were disenrolled due to confusion and barriers to completing the renewal process. While some who were disenrolled transitioned to other coverage, many who were disenrolled faced challenges navigating appeals and also experienced out of pocket costs or gaps in access to needed care. By December 2023, the federal government had issued additional guidance and sent letters to nine states with the largest amounts of children losing Medicaid urging them to do adopt additional federal strategies to prevent families from losing coverage due to paperwork, or procedural, issues. CMS identified the top five actions states could take to reduce procedural disenrollments: improve auto-renewal (or ex parte) rates, adopt additional unwinding waivers, partner with managed care plans, support coverage transitions, and reduce call center wait times.

To gain a better understanding of what is working well during the unwinding and where there may be  opportunities to improve processes, KFF worked with PerryUndem to conduct detailed interviews with state officials in Arizona, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, as well as with others involved in unwinding including representatives from Medicaid managed care plans, primary care associations (PCAs) representing federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), legal aid and other advocacy organizations, and navigator groups in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. These states were selected because they provided early data, have a large and diverse Medicaid population, and, collectively, are geographically and politically diverse (see the Appendix for more information on key policies and characteristics in the study states).

In addition, as part of our Annual Medicaid Budget Survey for State Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024, KFF worked with Health Management Associates (HMA) to survey Medicaid directors in all 50 states and DC, as well as conduct a follow-up telephone interview, with the goal of identifying and tracking trends in Medicaid spending, enrollment, and policymaking. To address current issues, the survey and phone interview included questions regarding Medicaid unwinding. This report synthesizes themes from these interviews and the survey, examining the perspectives of states and other participants on outreach and engagement, renewal processes during the unwinding period, and coverage transitions. See the methods box at the end of this report for more detail.

This report describes state and other participant experiences with Medicaid unwinding to provide additional context for a range of policy options adopted by states through temporary 1902(e)(14) waivers to address unwinding challenges and unwinding data. These perspectives provide examples of innovation, as well as continued challenges, during the first months of unwinding. These interviews occurred over multiple months. State Medicaid unwinding is a quickly evolving landscape, as new data, greater experience, and CMS guidance influence what is happening in the field.

Outreach and Engagement

Outreach Strategies

Study states are using an array of strategies to reach out to enrollees. States have introduced new methods of communications and greatly increased their enrollee outreach, expanding the number of touchpoints before renewal. All four study states offered publicly available communication toolkits for partner organizations to use, which included printable materials like posters, postcards, and handouts, as well as digital materials for social media, email, or content that can be embedded into websites. Indiana has offered to print and distribute these materials to external groups at no cost. Study states have also used traditional press to raise awareness; in Pennsylvania, for example, participants commended the Secretary of the Department of Human Services for travelling across the state and holding numerous unwinding press conferences to raise awareness at the local level. To increase the reach of messaging, state officials referenced strategies such as translating outreach materials for non-English speakers. Arizona officials noted electronic communication as an effective method to reach transient populations.

Many entities involved with unwinding have been conducting outreach to amplify state efforts. Some MCOs, newly able to provide direct outreach to enrollees as a result of 1902(e)(14) waiver flexibilities adopted in three study states (Florida is the only state that has not adopted any of these waivers), mentioned they would like to see these flexibilities become permanent so they can continue this outreach after the unwinding period ends. Innovative approaches to outreach include virtual renewal training events (an Indiana MCO reported thousands of attendees for such an event) and coordination between MCOs and FQHCs so providers can work with individuals due for renewal. Some participants in Arizona and Florida noted that direct local marketing and word of mouth can be more effective than statewide ads.

Targeted outreach messages and multiple strategies to update contact information have helped to reduce returned mail. State officials reported that supplementing their outreach efforts with information from the National Change of Address (NCOA) database has been effective for automatically updating mailing addresses and targeting outreach. Pennsylvania conducted a call campaign to people identified via the database as having a change of address, while Arizona credits the NCOA database for a precipitous drop in returned mail. State officials and MCO representatives both reported that receiving contact information from MCOs has also been helpful. Arizona, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have obtained 1902(e)(14) waivers to obtain updated contact information from MCOs. In Arizona, an MCO representative reported that they are able to check enrollees’ contact information with the state’s files and, if needed, MCO staff can provide the updated information to the state.

Despite significant outreach, navigators and those providing legal aid noted that some messages have created confusion and not all enrollees were aware that Medicaid disenrollments had resumed. In Pennsylvania, participants provided examples of enrollees not receiving phone calls, text messages, or letters even after updating their contact information, leaving them unaware that they need to be on the lookout for renewal paperwork. Similarly, Florida participants encountered individuals who signed up for electronic notifications and then never received an email. An Indiana participant spoke of the opposite issue, however: enrollees were overwhelmed by the large number of calls they were receiving about renewing their coverage. Florida navigators and advocates commented that unclear messaging and poor translations led to confusion about renewals and coverage status for enrollees.

Stakeholder Coordination

Three of the study states hold regular meetings with groups involved in unwinding to coordinate efforts, and participants value this increased engagement. These states convene regular meetings, which began before the start of the unwinding period, to provide updates on unwinding plans, review the latest unwinding data, and share updated outreach materials and messages. Arizona holds large monthly meetings with about 100 participants as well as smaller meetings to focus on unwinding data that resulted in the state expanding its data reporting and developing a comprehensive unwinding dashboard. In Pennsylvania, the stakeholder meetings include multiple officials from the Department of Human Services, which administers Medicaid, and the state-based Marketplace, known as Pennie, and help to promote interagency coordination as well as coordination with stakeholders. Participants in Arizona, Indiana, and Pennsylvania all described the increased engagement with the state Medicaid agency as a bright spot during the unwinding. Florida was the only study state that did not have regular meetings with external groups involved in unwinding, though some study participants reported meeting with state officials individually. In lieu of meetings with the state, participants said they coordinated with each other to share information and experiences.

Feedback loops have helped states identify problems early in the unwinding process. Participants  noted that regular meetings provide a forum for sharing on-the-ground experiences and alerting states to problems people are encountering with the renewal process. State officials said getting input about potential problems enables them to assess the situation and determine whether changes to processes or policies are needed. While participants agreed that states did not address all issues or did not respond as quickly as they wanted in all cases, the willingness of states to communicate about issues and engage over possible solutions helped build trust in the process.

Where there has been limited state engagement and communication, there are more reports of problems with the unwinding process and frustration among others working on unwinding. While participants in Florida indicated they were able to work individually with staff involved in the unwinding to resolve problems with specific cases, they said it has been harder to address issues like long call center wait times and problems with notices at a more systemic level. The reported lack of communication from the state has created a more adversarial situation, leading to a civil rights complaint and a lawsuit. Florida participants also described using press conferences and media calls to raise awareness broadly and for the state without direct access to a state meeting.

Renewal Processes During the Unwinding

Eligibility Systems

While eligibility and renewal systems are generally working well in Arizona and Indiana, Pennsylvania is hampered by an outdated system that requires manual workarounds to comply with federal requirements. Arizona has prioritized automated eligibility processes for many years to help balance efficiency, cost effectiveness, and accountability. Officials noted that the state has added data sources and refined business rules for checking eligibility, which have increased ex parte rates and reduced demands on staff. Pennsylvania’s system, however, cannot conduct ex parte renewals for people enrolled in Medicaid and another program, such as SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or for non-MAGI enrollees. To address this limitation, the state implemented a mitigation plan requiring manual ex parte reviews before terminating coverage during the unwinding.

Respondents reported both benefits and drawbacks to having Medicaid eligibility systems that are integrated with other benefit programs. Integrated eligibility systems allow people to apply for and renew coverage for multiple benefit programs at once, and all four study states have Medicaid eligibility systems that are integrated with CHIP and social benefit programs like SNAP and TANF. Officials in Arizona and Indiana reported that data sharing across programs has helped improve ex parte renewal rates and simplify renewal processes. However, some Florida participants expressed concern that information provided during SNAP renewals, which occur more frequently than Medicaid renewals, can trigger a Medicaid review and potentially lead to people being disenrolled from Medicaid. State officials also reported that it can be more challenging to make changes to integrated systems because of the need to reconcile complex eligibility rules across programs.

Even where systems are working well, the volume of renewals poses challenges, and most system changes can take time to implement. State officials reported challenges “turning on” normal eligibility functions after three years of continuous enrollment, especially after states implemented changes to their systems during the pandemic that needed to be undone. In Arizona, officials noted that they are continually making changes to their systems, but at the start of the unwinding, the number of needed changes meant they could not test everything before going into production. Officials in Arizona and Indiana discussed having procedures for identifying problems and working closely with their vendors to fix things as they come up. However, because some systems changes can take longer to implement, states reported having to adopt manual workarounds for certain groups while developing more permanent changes.

Staffing

Respondents cited staffing shortages as an ongoing challenge contributing to slower processing of renewals and backlogs. Indiana officials noted that inexperienced eligibility staff coupled with staffing shortages led to renewal backlogs early in the unwinding, although the number of pending cases at the end of the month has since improved. Some respondents also noted that staffing shortages disproportionately affect certain communities. For example, Pennsylvania officials found that staffing shortages are more concentrated in urban areas where there is greater competition for workers. In Florida, participants echoed reports that staff shortages at call centers have led to longer wait times for Spanish-speakers compared to English-speakers.

Study participants noted that new and inadequately trained staff may be contributing to disenrollments of people who are still eligible. Federal guidance requires states to assess eligibility for all Medicaid pathways before disenrolling someone from coverage. However, according to participants, inexperienced staff may not be doing this full assessment before sending a termination notice. Participants in Pennsylvania noted this problem in counties with high turnover among eligibility workers and began adding information on additional eligibility pathways to paperwork they help people submit. Arizona officials acknowledged that training issues combined with the high volume of renewals each month increased the likelihood that staff would make mistakes or “cut corners” that could lead to incorrect eligibility determinations. They have sought to address this issue by providing additional training.

Streamlining Renewals

States have taken steps to streamline the renewal process and increase their ex parte renewal processes. Arizona and Indiana opted to align renewal dates for all household members to reduce the number of times a family must respond to a renewal request. Three of the study states have also adopted temporary federal flexibilities using 1902(e)(14) waivers to improve ex parte rates, especially for cases where no income or assets are returned from state databases (Table 1). Study states have also taken steps outside of the federal flexibilities to improve ex parte rates. For example, Indiana added the Asset Verification System in 2020, improving the state’s ability to conduct ex parte renewal for non-MAGI enrollees, which, as noted above, is a challenge in many states.

Most study state officials noted that federal flexibilities related to verifying income and assets have been particularly helpful for increasing ex parte rates. When asked which federal strategies they would like to see made permanent, Arizona and Indiana officials cited the zero- and low-income strategies. These waivers allow states to complete ex parte renewals in cases where no income data are returned from state databases if the state had verified or accepted an attestation of no income or income below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) in the past 12 months. Indiana officials said that unemployed people can have trouble producing documentation of zero income. Arizona officials also found that the zero- and low-income strategies are generally low-risk for erroneously renewing coverage for someone who is over-income. Officials argued that it is unusual for someone’s previously verified income to increase a large amount without that person’s higher income appearing in state databases.

While all respondents expressed concern over procedural disenrollment rates, state officials noted that strategies to increase ex parte renewals have helped to lower those rates. Notably, in guidance released in December 2023, federal officials pointed to analysis showing that increasing ex parte rates is the most effect strategy to reducing procedural disenrollments. Procedural disenrollments occur when there is no definitive determination of ineligibility, and high procedural disenrollment rates could mean that some people losing Medicaid may still be eligible. While disenrollment rates across study states are similar, there is greater variation in procedural disenrollment rates; procedural disenrollments as a share of completed redeterminations range from 28% in Indiana to 15% in Arizona (Table 2). In Arizona and Indiana, officials prioritized automated processes as a way to reduce the number of people needing to complete paperwork who could potentially lose coverage for procedural reasons. Similarly, Pennsylvania officials found that the manual ex parte process they have put in place is effective at reducing procedural disenrollments because eligibility workers look at every case before terminating coverage. Notably, Pennsylvania is one of 29 states (but the only study state) that had been conducting ex parte renewals at the household level, rather than the individual level, contributing to some inappropriate procedural terminations (as of December 2023, Pennsylvania has nearly completed reinstatements for affected enrollees). State officials also credited increased outreach efforts as a major factor in reducing procedural terminations.

In response to questions about procedural disenrollments, Arizona and Indiana are reporting additional data on the reason for procedural disenrollments on their unwinding dashboards. For example, Arizona added data to their state dashboard showing that roughly three-quarters of procedural terminations were among people who the state had identified as over-income or aging out of coverage. Indiana began adding footnotes to their monthly Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unwinding reports showing about one-third of procedural terminations also had “a non-procedural” reason for termination (e.g., over the income or asset limit, moving out of state, or death). The differences in the share of people with a non-procedural reason for closure may be partially explained by different data matching procedures in each state. Study participants in both states have also requested data on procedural terminations by zip code, which they believe will help more effectively target outreach. In response, Arizona recently published an interactive map showing zip codes at “low” or “high” risk of disenrollment, but could not provide exact counts out of privacy concerns.

“I think that the zero-income strategy is really helpful. We are working on the SNAP/TANF strategy, so that is number one…I think that all of the ones that we’ve adopted, if CMS were to say these are available permanently now, we would definitely look into, do we want to keep them? They were things that are helpful and common sense.” – Indiana State Official

Enrollee Communication and Notices

All four study states have increased the number of communication touch points when enrollees cannot be renewed via ex parte processes, including sending multiple reminder notices through the mail, email, and text. Pennsylvania, for example, went from just sending a mailer 90 days ahead of renewal to adding 11 “touches,” which include reaching out 90, 60, 30, and five days before a renewal is due. Study participants noted that enrollees who enrolled in Medicaid for the first time during continuous enrollment needed additional reminders and education about completing Medicaid renewals. In Indiana, one participant said that they have begun a consumer campaign focused on encouraging individuals to open letters from the state after hearing from multiple people that they were ignoring incoming letters because they incorrectly assumed no action was needed.

Study participants in all four states reported that Medicaid renewal and termination notices can be difficult to understand and, in some cases, provide misleading or incorrect information. While participants noted myriad issues with notices, Florida advocates were the most critical of the state’s notices. In Florida, advocates have filed a lawsuit over notices, contending that termination notices are confusing, fail to explain why individuals lost Medicaid coverage, and sometimes include incorrect information. Florida participants also described situations where enrollees were requested to provide information or documentation that is not necessary for renewal and noted that it is often unclear which individuals have been denied coverage within a household. Arizona and Pennsylvania participants observed that, for some enrollees, the notices are not clear on what actions or documents are needed for renewal. Other areas of concern include poor translations and notices not being translated into requested languages. An Indiana participant said the notices informing parents that their child has been transitioned to CHIP coverage were confusing because families receive one notice about disenrollment from Medicaid and separate notice indicating enrollment in CHIP. Across multiple study states, participants also said that termination notices included language discouraging people from requesting continued benefits while they appeal their coverage denial.

Some states have made changes to fix incorrect information or to provide additional clarifying information in notices. While changing Medicaid notice language can be a lengthy process, participants reported situations in which states corrected notice language or adopted creative workarounds to improve information shared with enrollees. In Arizona, participants noted that early in the unwinding termination notices included incorrect information about maintaining coverage during an appeal; the state has since corrected the language. In Indiana, at the request of participants, the state added brightly colored inserts to notices that include additional clarifying information.

Assisting Enrollees with Renewals and Appeals

Participants involved in unwinding reported challenges getting through to call centers when enrollees needed assistance with their renewals, with some enrollees never receiving needed help. According to participants, call center wait times can be lengthy and it can be challenging to be connected to a staffer able to answer questions, especially for complicated cases. One Florida participant said some people will carry their phone on speaker phone for hours waiting to get through to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and sometimes calls can be disconnected. A Pennsylvania participant also noted long call center wait times for some enrollees. An Indiana participant observed the quality of call center assistance can vary, with some newer employees less able to resolve enrollees’ issues.

Non-English language speakers have experienced more difficulty with call centers. An Arizona advocate observed that individuals with limited English proficiency faced longer wait times and could sometimes have their calls dropped. In Florida, participants noted that while an English speaker may wait 30-45 minutes, a Spanish speaker could end up waiting hours. In Pennsylvania, a participant similarly reported that requesting a language other than English can lead to longer wait times, and occasionally if Spanish interpreter lines are busy, people will be rolled over to the English lines. In Indiana, one navigator noted that some call center staff will not allow bilingual navigators to join calls or speak on behalf of their client, requiring that a call center interpreter be used instead which can create additional confusion.

Some participants in the study states noted challenges with timeframes for responding to renewal notices. Some study state participants noted that the timeframes to respond to a renewal notice or to find other coverage after receiving a termination notice are too short. Florida advocates wanted the state to consider adopting flexibilities offered by CMS to extend the timeframe for renewals to help address this issue. Participants in Pennsylvania also noted that the window to return renewal packets is short and results in difficulty submitting documents by the deadline, especially if there are mail delays.

In Arizona and Indiana, MCOs are able to help their members complete renewals and contract with outside vendors or navigator to provide that assistance. Generally, MCOs are prohibited from assisting enrollees with completing renewals; however, during the unwinding, Arizona and Indiana obtained 1902(e)(14) waivers that allow MCOs to help their members complete renewals. MCO respondents in both states said they are working with vendors because of the scale of the task and compliance concerns. In Arizona, an MCO participant spoke of how they have been able to pass on lists from the state of enrollees coming due for renewal to a vendor to do targeted outreach and education. This vendor collects information over the phone for members, helps gather supporting documents, and submits the renewal on their behalf. In Indiana, one MCO participant also used a vendor to set up an in-house call center for member renewal questions.

Coverage Transitions

‘Churning’ Back on to Medicaid

State officials and other study participants acknowledge that some individuals who are disenrolled from Medicaid for procedural reasons reenroll after a short period. At the time of the interviews, state officials explained they were just getting data on churn among those who were disenrolled for procedural reasons and had not had time to analyze the data. Both Arizona and Pennsylvania are now reporting data on the number of people reenrolling in Medicaid. Pennsylvania state officials mentioned they are considering working with a vendor to identify and follow up with individuals procedurally disenrolled who may still be eligible. Other participants also spoke about their experiences with enrollee churn. An Arizona participant noted that nearly half of individuals who re-apply during the reconsideration period are renewed, indicating that eligible individuals are being dropped and losing coverage. An MCO in Indiana said that the initial files shared by the state made it difficult to analyze churn, though the MCO is currently assessing improved data elements from the state. Study states have also implemented new communication methods to target people who are procedurally disenrolled. Both Arizona and Pennsylvania send letters following disenrollment to let people know they still have time to renew coverage.

Study participants reported that losing Medicaid despite being eligible creates confusion and distrust in the community, leading some people to choose not to reapply. Navigators and advocates described how being dropped from Medicaid, particularly because the state did not process their paperwork before the due date, causes some enrollees to lose trust in the ability of navigators and other to provide needed help and in the program overall. That frustration can lead them to give up on the process and not work to complete a renewal or reapply, if needed. Indiana community outreach groups, including chaplaincy programs, are working on rebuilding trust in the community to assist in getting people reenrolled.

Transitions to CHIP and the Marketplace

Arizona and Indiana auto-enroll eligible children into CHIP ensuring a seamless coverage transition, but other study participants reported gaps in coverage for some children transitioning to CHIP in Florida and Pennsylvania. When children in Arizona and Indiana are found to be ineligible for Medicaid, the states automatically enroll them in CHIP, if eligible, without any action required from the family. Though, as noted above, participants in Indiana said unclear notices about the transition created confusion for some families. Pennsylvania recently integrated CHIP into their Medicaid eligibility system, a project that had been planned for years, but coincided with the start of the unwinding period. Study participants reported that there were challenges with the rollout and system glitches have led to some children losing coverage. In Florida, participants noted that children no longer eligible for Medicaid have their information automatically transferred to CHIP; however, slow processing times lead to gaps in coverage for some children. A December 2023 letter from federal officials to Florida’s governor raised concerns about child disenrollments and encouraged the state to adopt additional strategies to reduce child disenrollments, such as utilizing more federal flexibilities as well as eliminating CHIP premiums and lockout periods, which help with transitions from Medicaid to CHIP.

Although many people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid qualify for subsidized Marketplace coverage, study participants said affordability remains a barrier to enrollment. Respondents generally said that account transfers to the Marketplace were happening as expected; however, the number of people disenrolled from Medicaid who enroll in Marketplace coverage remains low in all study states. Even with heavily subsidized premiums and cost-sharing for the lowest-income enrollees, participants said that for some people, the deductibles and cost sharing are too high. They also pointed out that not everyone is aware of Marketplace coverage as an option and that educating people about premiums, cost-sharing, benefits, and the Marketplace generally is an ongoing need. Awareness of the Marketplace is low in Pennsylvania, which launched its State-Based Marketplace, Pennie, during the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s statewide press campaign has been held jointly between the Department of Human Services and Pennie to increase awareness.

Navigators in states using the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) described problems with the quality of the contact information they receive through the Medicaid Assister Community (MAC) program. The purpose of the MAC is to provide navigators with lists of people disenrolled from Medicaid whom navigators are expected to contact with information about applying for Marketplace coverage. However, navigators participating in the program in the three study states using the FFM (Arizona, Florida, and Indiana) identified common challenges. They reported outdated or missing contact information, and some data erroneously included minors (who navigators cannot contact) and people who still qualified for Medicaid. The volume of people to contact overwhelmed navigators, with one organization reporting having to contact thousands of consumers each week; however, bad data meant the number of people who enroll in the Marketplace is low.

Looking Ahead

At the beginning of 2024, nine months into the unwinding process, states have completed renewals for less than half of all enrollees. While many who are disenrolled may “churn” back to Medicaid or transition to other coverage, many will likely become uninsured. People who are uninsured face more barriers to care, go without needed care and also may experience higher out of pocket costs and medical debt.

Data are important to help monitor how unwinding is going across states, but trackers and dashboards only tell part of the unwinding story. Medicaid eligibility is complex, and outcomes are the result of federal and state policy decisions but also the result of how those policies are implemented and how well eligibility and other systems work. Gaining perspectives from state officials, others involved with unwinding and enrollees provides valuable insights into what is working well and where there are challenges and room for improvement to efficiently identify those who are no longer eligible and help those who are eligible maintain coverage.

With more than half of renewals still to be completed, there is time to learn from experience. Key themes from the interviews include:

• Efforts to enhance outreach and stakeholder engagement such as:
  • Supplementing broad outreach strategies aimed at raising awareness with targeted messaging that is directed at certain populations who are at greater risk of not completing their renewals may help increase renewal response rates;
  • Use of the NCOA database and partnering with MCOs can help to reduce returned mail;
  • Collaborating with stakeholders to reach enrollees and also to establish feedback loops can help to continue to identify problems even as initial issues are addressed;
• Efforts to improve renewal processes that include:
  • Adopting federal flexibilities to streamline renewals and increase ex parte rates can simultaneously help to reduce the burden on overloaded staff and reduce procedural disenrollments among those who remain eligible;
  • Improving communication with enrollees, including notices and call center access, can reduce enrollee confusion and increase the likelihood that individuals are able to resolve problems;
• Efforts to smooth transitions to other coverage such as:
  • Auto enrollment of eligible children into CHIP can support seamless coverage transitions and reduce the number of children experiencing a gap in coverage; and
  • Greater coordination with the Marketplace can increase awareness of that coverage option and improvements to the MAC program, particularly enhancement of data quality, could lead to a greater number of people transitioning from Medicaid to Marketplace coverage.

States will continue the process of unwinding continuous enrollment through much of 2024. Any steps they take in the near term to improve systems and processes to help people who are still eligible maintain Medicaid and those who are no longer eligible transition to other coverage can reduce the number of people who become uninsured. Looking ahead, lessons learned from this experience can be used to inform policy changes and direct resources to more successful outreach and other strategies for reaching and communicating with enrollees and to make longer-term improvements to Medicaid renewal processes.