Kids Are Losing Health Coverage at an Alarming Rate

Since May 2023, more than 100,000 kids and nearly 550,000 Coloradans have lost Medicaid coverage. In this episode of The West Steps, we’re exploring why so many Coloradans are losing health coverage and why it matters. 

Hunter Nelson, Senior Policy Analyst at the Colorado Children’s Campaign; Bethany Pray, Deputy Director at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy; and Shoshi Preuss, Policy Manager at Colorado Community Health Network join us to talk about how people who are still eligible for Medicaid are losing their coverage. They share ideas about how Colorado could improve its administrative systems – and discuss why having a Medicaid program that is functioning smoothly is important for all Coloradans. 

You can contact Hunter Nelson at hunter@coloradokids.org, Bethany Pray at bpray@copolicy.org, and Shoshi Preuss at spreuss@cchn.org. Learn more about our work by visiting our website and social media (@coloradokidsorg).     

 Resources:     

2024 Policy Priorities: 2024 Legislative Session - Colorado Children's Campaign (coloradokids.org)

The KidsFlash Blog: KidsFlash - Child Advocacy News | Colorado Children's Campaign (coloradokids.org)

Hunter Nelson Op-ed in the Colorado Sun: Opinion: Colorado kids are losing health coverage at an alarming rate and we must do more to keep them insured - The Colorado Sun

2023 Audit of Colorado’s Medicaid correspondence: 2261p_medicaid_correspondence.pdf (colorado.gov)

CCLP’s complaint to the Office of Civil Rights: CCLP and NHeLP urge justice department to stop Colorado Medicaid cuts, citing disabilities act violations - CCLP (copolicy.org)

Georgetown Center for Children & Families Unwind: Unwinding Continuous Coverage – Center For Children and Families (georgetown.edu)

KFF’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker: Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker | KFF

HCPF’s Data Reporting: Continuous Coverage Unwind Data Reporting | Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing