Medicaid Coverage Ending for up to 160,000 Iowans

On Saturday, state officials began terminating Medicaid health care coverage for thousands of Iowans who were enrolled in the program during the pandemic. Since the start of the federal public health emergency in March 2020, anyone who initially qualified stayed enrolled in Medicaid, even if their income later rose above eligibility limits. Elizabeth Matney, the State of Iowa’s Medicaid director, says over the next year, income reviews will lead to what she calls disenrollment in Medicaid.

Matney says the state has been sending notices to Medicaid members of the rule change that takes effect April 1st to avoid errors.

Matney says. States have 14 months to review Medicaid eligibility and renew enrollment in the program but began terminating coverage April 1st. More than 880,000 Iowans are currently enrolled in Medicaid.