WISCONSIN — There is a big transition over the next year for those who rely on Medicaid. As the continuous coverage offered in the pandemic unwinds, participants have to show, for the first time in three years, if they still qualify.

There are some concerns about this transition. William Parke-Sutherland is a health policy analyst with the Wisconsin advocacy group Kids Forward. He said over the course of about a year, members will have to renew their coverage. 

Parke-Sutherland told us his organization is worried about who could be left behind, especially children.

“Medicaid is a crucial source of health coverage for Black and Latinx and American Indian children in Wisconsin, and these continuous enrollment protections have been really important for making sure that people and kids don’t fall through the cracks,” he explained.

Parke-Sutherland noted some federal estimates show three out of four children expected to lose coverage would actually still be eligible.

“They are losing coverage because of bureaucratic mix-ups. You send in the wrong information, not responding fast enough,” he said. “Children of color and families with limited English proficiency are more likely to see a loss in coverage.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Medicaid enrollment grew by about 20 million people from February 2020 to March 2023. As states end the continuous enrollment provision, KFF estimates up to 17 million Americans could lose coverage. 

Parke-Sutherland recommended those who no longer qualify for Medicaid reach out to Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit outreach program of Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Watch the full interview with Kids Forward above.