Medicaid Enrollment In The Age Of COVID-19: A Nine-Month Analysis Of Trends Across The Nation

From February through November 2020, Families USA has closely monitored state-by state Medicaid enrollment related to COVID-19 and the economic downturn. Throughout the summer and fall, we observed rapidly increasing Medicaid enrollment rates. Although we found wide variations among the 41 states that reported Medicaid enrollment through September or October, all states reported increases in enrollment ranging from 4% to nearly 25%. Moreover, in the wake of the racial, economic, and political unrest of the past year, this analysis further highlights the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color, and the importance of Medicaid as a safety net for our nation’s most vulnerable populations.