In a significant blow to public health in New York, nearly 1 million residents have been removed from the Medicaid programme as part of the nationwide unwinding process. This has left many individuals at risk of losing access to necessary healthcare services, increasing concerns over the impact on vulnerable populations.
The unwinding process follows the expiration of emergency Medicaid protections that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2023, New York has disenrolled approximately 930,000 individuals from Medicaid, with the number expected to continue to drop through 2025. While some may have found alternative coverage, others face a precarious future without health insurance.
The Impact of the Rollback
According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), New York saw its Medicaid enrolment drop from 7.5 million in March 2023 to 6.6 million by March 2025. This reduction comes as a result of federal mandates allowing states to revisit their Medicaid rolls after the public health emergency ended.Â
Although New York’s loss of coverage is notable, it is less severe compared to states like Texas and Florida, which have seen more significant declines, primarily due to their refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
New York’s health commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, has expressed serious concerns regarding these cuts, warning that the rollback threatens both the stability of healthcare facilities across the state and the well-being of those losing coverage. Vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, and people with disabilities, are expected to bear the brunt of the consequences.
McDonald stated, “A rollback of this magnitude jeopardizes the stability of health care facilities around the state, strips health insurance coverage from New Yorkers, and will have direct, harmful impacts on working families, children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.”
Experts Warn of Long-Term Consequences
The removal of so many individuals from Medicaid raises serious public health concerns. Experts fear that many of the disenrolled will be left without health coverage, potentially leading to delayed medical treatment, worsening chronic conditions, and an increased strain on emergency services.
Paul Shafer, a health law expert at Boston University, highlighted the risk that these coverage losses will drive up the uninsured rate in the US, with direct implications for both individual health outcomes and the wider healthcare system.
Despite the availability of other forms of insurance, such as through employers or the health marketplace, many former Medicaid recipients may not have access to affordable alternatives. Without access to consistent healthcare, these individuals could face a multitude of health issues, ultimately placing further pressure on already overburdened health services.
