Medicaid Disenrollment Among Young Adults With and Without Complex Medical Conditions

Eligibility for health insurance shifts as children transition to adulthood, creating risk of coverage loss and disruption. For children and youth with complex health needs, this instability can be especially harmful, as many essential health and social supports are tied to insurance coverage.

A study published in جاما اطفال examined Medicaid disenrollment around age 19 for individuals with and without complex medical conditions across 46 states and Washington, D.C. The analysis found that among individuals aged 16 to 26 years old, risk of disenrollment peaked at age 19. Furthermore, the probability of being uninsured for two or more months was 13% for individuals with complex medical conditions and 36% for those without. Disenrollment risk also varies substantially by state of residence and by condition. The findings underscore critical gaps in Medicaid coverage during the transition to adulthood for individuals with and without complex medical conditions. The authors suggest that future research could examine how differences in disenrollment rates relate to state- and condition-specific risks and spending.