Fewer people lost postpartum health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 2019, according to a study from Brown University researchers.
The study was published April 22 in the JAMA Health Forum and concluded that the coverage increase was primarily associated with consistent Medicaid coverage under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The federal law enacted in March 2020 prevented Medicaid disenrollment and is set to expire in July.
"The Coronavirus Response Act was a boon for families in that it allowed postpartum people on Medicaid to hold on to their health insurance," study author Erica Eliason, PhD, said. "Many people will lose postpartum Medicaid coverage when the public health emergency ends unless states decide to extend Medicaid for a full year after childbirth — which they currently have the option to do under the American Rescue Plan Act."
The study analyzed data from the 2019-21 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Researchers focused on insurance coverage of female respondents ages 18-44 who were living with a child younger than 1 year.
Three key findings:
- Rate of insurance loss
- 2019: 3.1 percent
- 2021: 1.8 percent
- Respondents who reported having Medicaid in the last year
- 2019: 88.2 percent had consistent Medicaid, 10.3 percent lost coverage and 1.6 percent switched to private coverage
- 2021: 95 percent had consistent Medicaid, 3.7 percent lost coverage and 0.8 percent switched to private coverage.
- The number of people who went from being covered under Medicaid to being uninsured decreased by 64 percent during the pandemic.