Millions lose Medicaid benefits as states re-evaluate eligibility

Published: Sep 03, 2024 Duration: 00:03:23 Category: News & Politics

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MANY LOST COVERAGE DUE TO TECHNICAL ERRORS OR RED TAPE. HERE IS JESSE KIRSCH. >> Reporter: LAUREN IS LEGALLY BLIND, CONFINED TO A WHEEL CARE WITH ST. JAMES PALACE. EVEN THOUGH SHE IS 34 YEARS OLD, THIS JACKSONVILLE RESIDENT CANNOT DO MUCH ALONE. YOU NEED HELP WITH EVERYTHING -- >> YES. FROM GETTING UP TO PREPARING MEALS, TO GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, I NEED HELP. I WOULD SAY ALMOST 24/7. >> Reporter: AND YET FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, AIKEN SAYS SHE WAS ALONE OVERNIGHT AFTER THE STATE OF FLORIDA REVOKED HER ESSENTIAL MEDICAID COVERAGE. >> IT WAS PURE PANIC BECAUSE I'M, LIKE, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED? >> Reporter: DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRED STATES TO KEEP PROVIDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, EVEN IF THEY LOST THEIR ELIGIBILITY. THEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WENT AWAY, AND ELIGIBILITY RULES CAME BACK LAST YEAR FOR THE PROGRAM THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP LOW INCOME AND DISABLED AMERICANS. SINCE THEN, MORE THAN 25 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LOST COVERAGE DURING WHAT'S BEEN DUBBED THE UNWINDING OF MEDICAID. AND ACCORDING TO A HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH GROUP, ROUGHLY 70% OF THOSE WHO LOST COVERAGE DID SO BECAUSE OF PROCEDURAL REASONS LIKE PAPERWORK ISSUES, THOUGH SOME MAY GENUINELY NOT QUALIFY ANYMORE. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> HAVE I MAIL FOR YOU. >> OKAY. >> Reporter: KIMBERLY BRYANT HELPS LEAD AIKEN'S CARE TEAM. SHE SAYS AIKEN RECEIVED DIGITAL NOTICES THAT WERE NOT SENT TO HER CARE COORDINATORS. EVEN IF SHE DID FIND THIS ONLINE, WOULD SHE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ THIS? >> NO, SHE CAN'T SEE THAT BECAUSE SHE'S LEGALLY BLIND. >> Reporter: MANY PATIENT ADVOCATES SAY FLORIDA'S UNWINDING HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY SLOPPY. >> AND IT'S CAUSED ME A LOT OF STRESS. >> Reporter: THEY ESTIMATE THOUSANDS OF DISABLED PEOPLE LIKE LAUREN ARE BEING IMPACTED IN THAT STATE ALONE, AND NOW PLAINTIFFS IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGE THE STATE HAS VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FLORIDIANS, ENDING COVERAGE WITHOUT ADEQUATE NOTICE AND WITH LITTLE OR NO EXPLANATION OF THE ACTUAL REASON. WE REPEAT LID ASKED FLORIDA OFFICIALS FOR COMMENT, WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE. SO WE WENT TO A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ASK GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS WHY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE MEDICAID LOST COVERAGE. >> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S TRUE. >> Reporter: THE SECRETARY OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES STEPPED IN TO SAY THIS -- >> WE'RE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE MAINTAINS COVERAGE. >> WE DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FRIDAY. >> Reporter: BUT WITHOUT COVERAGE, BRYANT SAYS SHE TOOK OUT PERSONAL LOANS TO PAY AIKEN'S CARE TEAM. >> A LITTLE BIT OVER $12,000 NOW. >> Reporter: $12,000 OF YOUR MONEY? >> YES, OF MY MONEY. >> Reporter: WHY WOULD YOU PUT OUT $12,000 FOR SOMEONE YOU HAVE ONLY KNOWN MONTHS? >> I GUESS BECAUSE IF IT WAS ME, I WOULD WANT SOMEBODY TO CARE. I COULDN'T WALK AWAY. >> Reporter: LATE LAST WEEK, LAUREN AIKEN'S CARE TEAM SAYS HER COVERAGE WAS RESTORED. IT TOOK ALMOST THREE MONTHS AND A TEAM OF PEOPLE HELPING HER. MEANWHILE, AIKEN SAYS SHE'S LOST FAITH IN THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP HER LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLst. >> IF I

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