Late Postpartum Coverage Loss Before COVID-19: Implications For Medicaid Unwinding

Health Aff (Millwood). 2023 Jul;42(7):966-972. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01659.

Abstract

Using unique Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System follow-up data from before the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that only 68 percent of prenatal Medicaid enrollees maintained continuous Medicaid coverage through nine or ten months postpartum. Of the prenatal Medicaid enrollees who lost coverage in the early postpartum period, two-thirds remained uninsured nine to ten months postpartum. State postpartum Medicaid extensions could prevent a return to prepandemic rates of postpartum coverage loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Medicaid*
  • Medically Uninsured
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy
  • United States / epidemiology