Medicaid paperwork issues caused by the unwinding process have left families scrambling for months to get coverage for their young children with chronic conditions.

Summary

Millions of U.S. children have lost Medicaid coverage due to procedural issues during the unwinding process after the Covid public health emergency.

Families like the Quintanas and Wines face delays restoring coverage, leaving children with chronic conditions without essential care.

Colorado alone saw over 150,000 children lose coverage, and nationwide, over 5 million fewer children are enrolled in Medicaid since March 2023.

Advocates and health officials warn that lapses in preventative care and treatment could harm children’s long-term health, highlighting systemic issues in Medicaid’s eligibility and redetermination processes.