By Decker A. Handlir
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Maryland Department of Health released data indicating that 100,435 Marylanders have had their Medicaid coverage revoked since May.
This is due to a federal policy change that protected lower-income individuals from losing their Medicaid during the pandemic.
“When people do not have any medical coverage, they seem to let little health issues go until they are major problems,” said Susan Sommers, an accountant at the National Kidney Foundation. “They will end up in emergency rooms… this will place a greater strain on the hospitals.”
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was put in place to keep families in need of Medicare safe during the pandemic. Since Covid-19 is no longer declared a national emergency, that right has been taken away.
Each year there is a Medicaid renewal process that is carried out. From the beginning of the new year, you’re given 12 months to renew your Medicaid account. It’s during this period that you will learn if you are still eligible for your Medicaid coverage. For many Americans, Medicaid is their primary form of health insurance.
For those who are on Medicaid in the United States, it’s already a challenge to find a caregiver to accept it.
“I don’t feel like Medicaid is a stable form of healthcare but I get by. It’s very difficult to find places that accept Medicaid,” said Jessica Gilmore, a barista at Daily Grind and a Maryland citizen enrolled in Medicaid. “I recently went to the dentist… I found out they didn’t accept Medicaid and I had to pay $200 out of pocket.”
This scenario will become a reality for many Marylanders facing the loss of their Medicaid coverage. Yet, paying out of pocket for a medical appointment may be out of reach for many Marylanders in need of Medicaid.
“Private hospitals, clinics, and providers will see a decrease in patients… Public clinics, local health departments, and emergency rooms will see an increase in uninsured patients,” said Steven Huettner, research coordinator at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “Patients will lose contact with their primary care providers and will have problems managing health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.”
Initially, the pandemic was overwhelming hospitals, but now there is a potential of uninsured Marylanders overwhelming the hospitals once again. As the unwinding ensues, more and more of the 1.8 million Marylanders who rely on Medicaid, will no longer be eligible for subsidized, important medical care.
There is no plan or policy intended to restore FFCRA as of now.