15 Million Americans Set to Lose Medical Coverage as Public Health Emergency Ends

Some 15 million Americans are likely to start losing their health insurance when a public health emergency plan adopted during the coronavirus pandemic expires, a report warns.

Extension Will Delay ‘the Inevitable’

A giant health crisis is expected to hit America beginning on January 11, 2023. Up to 15 million will be left without health insurance because of the expiration of a COVID-19 public health emergency, The Epoch Times reported.

That will put an end to the ongoing insurance coverage by Medicaid and CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The report points out after the expiration of the state of emergency, the regular restrictions and income requirements will kick back in.

That will automatically disqualify millions of Americans who still have health insurance thanks to federal legislation adopted in 2020 to prevent disenrollment during the coronavirus pandemic.

The administration of President Joe “Multiple Crises” Biden already set January 11 as its tentative date for the termination of the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Observers believe Sleepy Joe will extend the measure as his Cabinet has promised to give Americans a two-month notice before allowing it to expire.

The report quotes industry insiders, however, who insist that an extension of the state of emergency would only “delay the inevitable.”

An analytical report by the Assistant Secretary for Planning Evaluation estimated 15 million Americans, including many children, will get unenrolled when the health emergency is terminated.

That number includes 8.2 million who will drop out of Medicaid; at the same time, 5.3 million children will no longer qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

According to the projection, only about a third of those who will lose their health insurance will be eligible for tax credits or other support programs.

Upcoming Avalanche of Uninsured Will Go Many Ways

With many new millions of uninsured patients, some forecast that the cost of doctor visits will spike, especially in emergency rooms.

There are also predictions that the avalanche of newly uninsured will exacerbate America’s already terrible mental health crisis, already affecting over 50 million.

Amanda Jones, a senior health professional with 14 years of experience with federal health care programs, said she and her colleagues were particularly worried about disability plans, not only Medicaid and CHIP.

Jones cautioned enrolling back into insurance programs after the state of emergency expiration will be more challenging than thought simply because those using the subsidized program wouldn’t be able to afford other coverage.

She forecasted that many would remain without any health insurance because they wouldn’t qualify for “alternative affordable plans.” A 2022 study found a mind-blowing number of American adults – 112 million – are struggling to pay for health insurance.

On top of that, 93% of those surveyed said their benefits weren’t worth the high cost. The medical insurance problem gets complicated further when there are coverage gaps or breaks because it hurdles restoring that patients’ routine with their doctors.

Jones noted further that many CHIP and Medicaid recipients would not lose their full coverage, but would be bereft of their benefits. That will hurt particularly those who resort to regular doctor visits and prescription medications.

This article appeared in The State Today and has been published here with permission.

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