Florida has removed more than 1.4 million people from its Medicaid program over the past two years—amounting to over 27% of enrollees—as part of a nationwide rollback of pandemic-era health coverage expansions, according to data from KFF.
The large-scale disenrollment stems from the “unwinding” process triggered after pandemic protections expired in March 2023. These federal rules had barred states from removing people from Medicaid during the COVID emergency. Florida, like other states, has since resumed annual eligibility reviews.
In a statement to Newsweek, the Florida Department of Children and Families said individuals no longer eligible are informed of alternate options such as the Florida Healthy Kids program. For children dropped from Medicaid, the state said it reaches out directly to help families transition to other plans.
Officials also noted that those who miss deadlines for reapplying have an extra 90 days to submit a late renewal, with retroactive coverage if they’re deemed eligible.
Health Access at Risk
Public health experts warn the drop in Medicaid coverage could increase the number of uninsured Floridians, worsening health outcomes and burdening emergency care systems. While some may gain coverage through employers or ACA marketplaces, others may be left without any safety net.
“Many people being dropped still meet the eligibility criteria,” said William Schpero, a professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine. “But they’re losing coverage for administrative reasons, like not receiving a renewal form after moving.”
Schpero added that these “procedural terminations” are particularly harmful because they disrupt access to care for people who technically still qualify. He also cautioned that the loss of Medicaid coverage could financially strain safety-net hospitals as uncompensated care rises.
A Steep Drop Compared to Other States
In March 2023, Florida had over 5 million Medicaid enrollees. By March 2025, that number had fallen to about 3.7 million—a sharper decline than other large states like California and New York. Only Texas reported a greater drop, shedding approximately 1.8 million enrollees.
Although Florida’s Medicaid enrollment remains slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels, the rapid decline raises alarm. Nationally, the speed of disenrollment varies based on how effectively states prevent procedural errors, such as missing renewal forms or system lags.
Schpero said states with higher automation in processing renewals—known as “ex parte” renewals—tend to retain more eligible people. Florida’s lower automation rate may be contributing to the mass disenrollments.
State Response
The Florida Department of Children and Families said it launched a wide-reaching public awareness campaign in 2023 to help residents navigate the Medicaid renewal process. The agency highlighted “multiple channels of communication” and enhanced digital tools to assist applicants, resulting in what it described as “response rates nearly double” those seen before the pandemic.
Looking Ahead
As redeterminations continue nationwide, millions more are expected to lose Medicaid coverage. Advocates fear many will fall through the cracks, especially those without access to affordable private plans.
“The people most at risk are those who already live on the margins,” said Schpero. “Without proper interventions, we’ll see more people avoiding care, more financial distress, and more strain on hospitals that serve our most vulnerable populations.”
The unfolding cuts are also taking place in the shadow of President Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is expected to reshape Medicaid funding and eligibility further in the months ahead.
