KFF October 29, 2024
The pandemic-era continuous enrollment provision sustained Medicaid for millions of enrollees, making it easier for children to get on and stay on coverage. Between February 2020 and April 2023 with continuous enrollment in place, child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 20%. While national child enrollment has since nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, state child eligibility expansions may help to bolster coverage in the aftermath of the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provision.
During the pandemic, states took advantage of a range of flexibilities to facilitate access to Medicaid and CHIP coverage, such as eliminating or waiving premiums for Medicaid and CHIP. Following the end of continuous enrollment, recent federal policies have sought to extend coverage protections for children....