Georgia drops over a half million people from Medicaid 

In the eight months since Georgia initiated its Medicaid redetermination process, over 503,000 individuals have lost their health coverage, marking one of the highest rates of disenrollment in the nation.

The recertification, a federally mandated year-long process, has disproportionately impacted Georgia, placing the state in the top 10 for disenrollment rates according to data from the nonprofit health research organization KFF.

The disenrollments are primarily attributed to a recertification process, a year-long “recertification” process mandated by the federal government, affecting states nationwide.

85% of those disenrolled in Georgia lost coverage due to missing or untraceable paperwork, emphasizing the challenges faced by individuals in navigating the bureaucratic process. Many only become aware of the loss when seeking medical attention.

The Department of Human Services (DHS), responsible for overseeing Medicaid, acknowledges being understaffed and overwhelmed. Despite hiring over 1,000 additional workers, DHS points to “extraordinary pressures” from the federal government as a significant factor.

The DHS spokesperson highlights ongoing efforts to assist eligible Georgians through outreach initiatives, including advertisements, individual notices, and community events. 

Former Medicaid recipients may not reapply, as some now qualify for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange.

However, the state faces criticism for having the third-worst rate of disenrolling children, prompting calls for increased measures to maintain children’s enrollment in Medicaid.

The income requirements for state Medicaid and PeachCare coverage vary, with an individual limit of $36,013 per year before taxes and $29,892 per year for children under 19. State data from December reveals that approximately 503,500 patients, or 41% of those attempting to renew or receive coverage, were terminated or deemed ineligible.

In December alone, 49,418 patients were terminated from the program, and over 6,800 were deemed ineligible.