INDIANAPOLIS — A new study from researchers at the Fairbanks School of Public Health reveals significant mental health, functional health and financial disparities between adults who were unable to complete the Medicaid renewal process and those who maintained their coverage.
Medicaid renewal affects millions of people annually in the U.S., but little is known about beneficiaries who lose coverage during the process. This research highlights the conditions faced by individuals who were procedurally disenrolled from Medicaid.
The study, Health Characteristics of Adults Unable to Complete Medicaid Renewal During the Unwinding Period, found that adults unable to complete the Medicaid renewal process during the early stages of the Medicaid unwinding period were more likely to report poor mental health, including anxiety, depression and frequent worrying. They were also significantly more likely to experience food insecurity and functional health challenges, such as difficulty seeing, hearing and remembering.
“The findings from this study raise urgent concerns about the consequences of administrative barriers during the Medicaid renewal process,” said Aparna Soni, associate professor of health policy and management at the Fairbanks School. “Disruptions in coverage, especially during periods of unwinding, can exacerbate the challenges faced by individuals already struggling with health and financial insecurity.”
The study used data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, which included responses from 131,384 working-age Medicaid enrollees between January 2023 and September 2024. The findings highlight the substantial disparities between current enrollees and procedural disenrollees.
“As we continue to assess the long-term effects of Medicaid unwinding, these findings underscore the need for policy solutions optimize the renewal process to ensure that vulnerable populations do not lose coverage,” said Justin Blackburn, associate professor of health policy and management at the Fairbanks School.
The study’s results call for a closer look at administrative processes and how they impact health outcomes for individuals who are already at higher risk due to mental health or functional health challenges.