What would a premature end to the COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY mean for you?
Should the COVID Public Health Emergency be ended prematurely? How many Americans would be hurt?
You make the call. We mapped the number of COVID cases and deaths per county. How many people don't have health insurance? Depend on Medicaid? How many people are likely to lose their health insurance coverage once the emergency is ended?
Spoiler alert: 627 people died from COVID on Jan 31, 2023. 2,588,100 people in Florida (or 15.10% of the population) do not have health insurance. About 8.2 million folks would no longer qualify, but 6.8 million people would be terminated even though they are still eligible, the department estimated.
"The Biden Administration announced they plan on letting the public health emergency expire on May 11, 2023. With an average of 500 people a day still dying from Covid. Allowing the Covid-19 Health Emergency to end will only exacerbate the pandemic and the burden will fall disproportionately on people of color, disabled people, the elderly, the sick, and the poor." - Marked By COVID
Check this map to see the number of COVID cases and deaths per county. How many people in the state lack health insurance or depend on Medicaid? Who are the elected officials for that state?
Tell your Elected Reps to Maintain the State of Emergency
Make sure your address for Medicaid renewal notifications is up to date
How many COVID deaths have there been in your county?
Tell your elected reps: Maintain the COVID State of Emergency
Letter campaign: We need robust public health infrastructure. Write to the President & Congress! Write directly to the White House or use the People’s CDC action network form to write to the President and Members of Congress.
2700 deaths in the US alone from COVID a week is an emergency. More than 23 million suffering from Long COVID is an emergency. So is up to 45% of COVID cases – including in children – leading to lingering symptoms. Pediatric hospitals overwhelmed by RSV, Flu and COVID is an emergency. Rationing healthcare capacity – invoking crisis standards of care – three years into a pandemic, instead of creating a robust public health infrastructure? - People's CDC
COVID Public Health Emergency
"As part of a Covid-19 relief package passed in March 2020, states were barred from kicking people off Medicaid during the public health emergency in exchange for additional federal matching funds. Medicaid enrollment has skyrocketed to a record 90 million people since then, and millions are expected to lose coverage once states began culling the rolls."
The public health emergency enabled the government to provide many Americans with Covid-19 tests, treatments and vaccines at no charge, enhanced social safety net benefits... States will now be able to start processing Medicaid redeterminations and dis-enrolling residents who no longer qualify, starting April 1. A total of roughly 15 million people could be dropped from Medicaid when the continuous enrollment requirement ends, according to an analysis the Department of Health and Human Services released in August. About 8.2 million folks would no longer qualify, but 6.8 million people would be terminated even though they are still eligible, the department estimated. - CNN
How does your state rank in preparing for unwinding Medicaid? How many people in your state depend on Medicaid? Are uninsured? How can you update your address to help preserve your Medicaid coverage?
"Agencies then send renewal notices and requests for information to enrollees. When enrollees respond, agencies will process the cases, renew coverage for those who remain eligible, and notify those who are no longer eligible that their coverage will end." - CBPP. If you don't respond to the renewal notice letter - you could lose your Medicaid coverage! Update your address and watch for the renewal notice.
Learn more
COVID cases - John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
Want to change your current health plan? HealthCare.gov
10 Things to Know About the Unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision - Kaiser Family Foundation
Unwinding the Medicaid Continuous Coverage Requirement: Frequently Asked Questions - Center On Budget and Policy Priorities
These benefits will disappear when Biden ends the Covid national and public health emergencies in May - CNN
50-State Medicaid Unwinding Tracker - Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
Ending the Covid-19 Health Emergency Will Cause More Death and Disability - Marked By COVID
US Coronavirus Deaths Per Day - YCharts
TakeAway: Don't take chances with your healthcare. Tell your elected rep to maintain the PUBLIC COVID HEALTH EMERGENCY and protect Medicaid.
Deepak
DemLabs
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