Florida drops thousands from health care plan

The Disenrollment Crisis in Florida’s Medicaid Program

More than a quarter of the individuals enrolled in a major health plan in Florida have been removed from the program over the past two years, according to data from KFF, a nonprofit organization that focuses on health policy research and news. This significant drop is part of a nationwide process known as the "unwinding" of Medicaid coverage, which began after the expansion of the program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 1.4 million Americans in Florida have been disenrolled from Medicaid as part of this process. The Florida Department of Children and Families has stated that individuals who no longer qualify for Medicaid are informed about other healthcare options available to them, including the Florida Healthy Kids program. For children who are deemed ineligible for Medicaid, the program proactively reaches out to families to provide these alternatives.

The department also mentioned that recipients who fail to submit a redetermination on time are given an additional 90 days to complete the process. If they are found eligible, their coverage can be reinstated retroactively to ensure there is no gap in their health insurance.

Why This Matters

There is growing concern about the impact of high levels of uninsured Americans on health outcomes and medical costs. While some individuals who were removed from the program may have access to private health insurance through their jobs, others could find themselves without any coverage. Experts warn that this could lead to people avoiding necessary medical care, increasing emergency room visits, and worsening chronic and mental health conditions across the country.

What You Need to Know

During the pandemic, some states expanded access to Medicaid, a federal health program designed for those with limited income. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also contributed to an increase in enrollment. As a result, many more Americans became eligible for Medicaid. However, after the pandemic, states had to keep Medicaid recipients enrolled regardless of eligibility until March 2023.

Starting in March 2023, states began the unwinding process, where more and more Medicaid recipients were removed from the program. In Florida, the number of Medicaid recipients dropped from 5,088,076 in March 2023 to 3,735,641 by March 2025, a decrease of nearly 1.4 million. This represents a 27% decline, which is faster than in other large states like California and New York. Texas saw an even larger drop, with around 1.8 million fewer people covered by Medicaid.

The current number of people with Medicaid coverage is slightly higher than it was in February 2020, but the two-year drop shows a significant loss of coverage. Variations in disenrollment rates across states depend on several factors, including how effectively they managed procedural terminations.

Understanding Procedural Terminations

Procedural terminations occur when individuals remain eligible for Medicaid but lose coverage because the state lacks the information needed to confirm their eligibility. This can happen if an enrollee does not receive a required renewal form due to a change in address.

Some states attempted to reduce these terminations by implementing automated renewals, which do not require action from the enrollee. However, states with higher disenrollment rates often had lower rates of automated renewals.

Experts warn that many of those who lost Medicaid coverage may now lack access to affordable health insurance. William Schpero, a professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine, noted that losing Medicaid coverage can lead to increased financial strain as individuals face medical bills they cannot afford.

What People Are Saying

Schpero emphasized that steeper losses of coverage are concerning for two main reasons. First, it may indicate that many individuals who lost coverage were still eligible for the program, but their coverage was terminated due to administrative errors. Second, many of those who lost coverage may not have access to alternative sources of health insurance, leaving them uninsured.

He also warned that safety-net providers, which serve low-income populations, will face increased financial pressure as more patients become uninsured. This is especially concerning as significant cuts to Medicaid are expected under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The Florida Department of Children and Families explained that in 2023, the state implemented extensive outreach efforts to help eligible recipients complete the redetermination process. These efforts included public campaigns and improved tools to enhance the user experience, resulting in a response rate nearly double that of pre-pandemic levels.

What Happens Next

As the unwinding process continues, further reductions in Medicaid enrollment are expected in Florida and across the country. With millions already having lost health coverage, concerns about access to care for low-income individuals and families remain high.