It’s already been shown that enhanced Medicaid coverage was a crucial lifeline for millions of people during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And as the federal government eyes winding down the public health emergency (PHE) sometime next year, as many as 18 million people could lose that coverage, data shows. And among those who could be particularly impacted are children. The ranks of Pennsylvania’s uninsured children dropped between 2019 and 2021, from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent, according to newly released research by the advocacy group Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. That’s lower than the nationwide average of 5.4 percent, but still higher than surrounding states, according to the report.
The current PHE is in effect until Jan. 11, 2023, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The Biden administration has said it will give states 60 days’ notice before ending it. And since the feds didn’t give notice last month (to make the math work) it’s likely the declaration will be extended again, according to Kaiser.