A trial is underway to determine if Florida failed to properly notify Medicaid beneficiaries it disenrolled during the unwinding process, the Miami Herald reported July 11.
In August 2023, the Florida Health Justice Project and the National Health Law Program filed a proposed class-action lawsuit on behalf of two families disenrolled from the state's Medicaid program. The families alleged their coverage was terminated without proper notice from the state.
If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, thousands of disenrolled Medicaid beneficiaries in the state could have their coverage reinstated, at least temporarily, the Miami Herald reported.
As of June 28, at least 1.9 million people in Florida have been disenrolled from Medicaid since continuous coverage requirements expired in 2023, according to KFF. Of those, 64% were disenrolled for procedural reasons, rather than being determined ineligible based on their income.
The lawsuit applies to individuals whose coverage was terminated because the state determined their income was too high to qualify for Medicaid. The plaintiffs allege Florida did not provide a clear explanation of why their benefits were terminated, or adequate time to appeal the decision.
The lawsuit is currently the only case in the nation related to the Medicaid redeterminations process, the National Health Law Program told the Miami Herald.