Alabama Medicaid Agency Completes Unwinding Process, Nearly 300,000 Enrolled Alabamians Removed in One Year
The Alabama Medicaid Agency has successfully completed the process of unwinding its rolls, resulting in nearly 300,000 fewer Alabamians enrolled in the program one year later. This process, known as Medicaid unwinding, involved redetermining members’ eligibility after the expiration of pandemic federal protections. Reasons for removal included no longer meeting income requirements or moving out of state.
In July of 2024, for the first time since June of 2023, the number of Alabamians enrolled in Medicaid rose, increasing by 1,292 to roughly 1.09 million. This stabilization in enrollment marks a slight increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in September of 2019.
Notably, Alabama remains one of ten states that have yet to expand its Medicaid program eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. The program’s eligibility requirements in Alabama are among the strictest in the country, with residents having to meet specific criteria and adhere to strict income caps.
Despite calls for Medicaid expansion from Democratic state lawmakers and advocacy groups, Gov. Kay Ivey remains skeptical, and there is a lack of consensus among the Legislature. With the completion of the unwinding process, the Alabama Medicaid Agency continues its efforts to educate recipients on renewal procedures.
Overall, more than 94 million Americans are currently enrolled in Medicaid, with approximately 25.2 million losing coverage since the unwinding process began. Alabama ranked 23rd in terms of disenrollment rate, losing around 34% of its enrollees over the one-year period. The state’s strict eligibility requirements contribute to its unique position in the Medicaid landscape.
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