Medicaid renewal barriers hit vulnerable adults hardest, according to a new [study](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2831563) published in _JAMA Health Forum_. Researchers from Indiana University found that adults who could not complete the Medicaid renewal process during the “unwinding period” following the COVID-19 pandemic faced significant health and financial challenges.
The study analyzed data from 131,384 working-age Medicaid enrollees surveyed between January 2023 and September 2024. Researchers compared three groups: current [Medicaid](https://www.mcknights.com/news/medicaid-cuts-will-balance-budget-on-the-backs-of-seniors-ltc-providers-say/) enrollees, those who couldn’t complete the renewal process (“procedural disenrollees”), and those who lost coverage for other reasons.
Procedural disenrollees showed notably worse mental health outcomes than current enrollees. They were 3.3 percentage points more likely to report high anxiety (16% increase), 3.3 percentage points more likely to report frequent worrying (19% increase), and 2.5 percentage points more likely to report depression (18% increase).
They also faced functional health challenges, with 2.0 percentage points higher rates of vision difficulties (12% increase) and 1.1 percentage points higher rates of hearing difficulties (38% relative increase). Financial vulnerability was especially severe, with procedural disenrollees 3.6 percentage points (51%) more likely to experience food insecurity than current enrollees.
“These findings raise concerns regarding the potential consequences of administrative barriers and Medicaid coverage disruptions for people in vulnerable conditions,” wrote study authors Aparna Soni, PhD, and Justin Blackburn, PhD.
The research highlights how administrative processes may inadvertently create barriers for those most in need of healthcare coverage. Compared to those who disenrolled for other reasons, procedural disenrollees had higher mental health needs, worse functional health, and lower financial security.
The study authors recommend exploring human-centered outreach efforts, such as Medicaid navigators, to assist beneficiaries in navigating administrative processes and minimize unnecessary loss of benefits, particularly for populations with significant health and financial needs.