Colorado ranks 15th in the nation for the highest percentage of people losing Medicaid health insurance after pandemic-era protections ended March 31.
Of the roughly 70,000 Coloradans who lost coverage in July, 50,000 were still eligible, according to state data.
Simon Smith, president and CEO of Clinica Family Health, said many people lost coverage for procedural reasons, not because they earned too much to qualify. Ta.
Either they didn’t know they needed to re-register or they didn’t fill out the form correctly.
“There are a lot of people in Colorado who are still eligible for Medicaid but are about to be disenrolled and lose their Medicaid because of that process,” Smith said. “That’s really concerning.”
Many people enrolled in Medicaid after losing their jobs and employer-sponsored insurance, only to be automatically re-enrolled during the public health emergency.
Supporters argue that with most people now back at work, stopping automatic renewal would return enrollment to pre-pandemic levels and save taxpayers money.
Coloradans can apply for or maintain health insurance at HealthFirstColorado.com.
People without insurance tend to avoid preventive appointments to save money, and Smith said many people’s symptoms turn into a crisis and they end up with the most expensive forms of treatment. He noted that he was putting off getting treatment until he went to the emergency room.
These higher costs will ultimately be borne by the entire healthcare system.
“As uninsured rates go up and uncompensated treatment increases, other insurance companies’ rates go up as well,” Smith said. “There are systemic effects associated with people losing insurance.”
Clinica, which serves all patients regardless of their ability to pay, has already lost $500,000 and will lose $2 million this year compared to its revenue before Coloradans started being excluded from Medicaid. is expected.
Smith said these losses and rising costs are making it difficult for community health centers, which primarily serve Medicaid patients and the uninsured, to keep their doors open.
“That’s a real danger, and a danger that we face here in Colorado,” Smith said. “When the balance of income and the balance of insured patients begins to decline, it has a significant impact on the ability of community health centers to continue providing services.”
