This snapshot finds that between December 2009 and December 2010, an additional 2.8 million people enrolled in Medicaid programs nationally, pushing Medicaid enrollment up to 51.5 million. Enrollment growth over this period was 5.7 percent, down from a peak of 8.8 percent from the prior year.

Since the start of the recession, Medicaid enrollment has grown by almost 8.8 million. Enrollment growth for families, particularly children, is more affected by changes in the economy than other eligibility groups. From December 2007 to December 2010, an additional 4.9 million non-disabled children enrolled in Medicaid coverage, representing over half of the total growth across all eligibility groups during this period. The percentage of uninsured children actually declined slightly during this period, largely due to more children gaining coverage through Medicaid or CHIP.

While the recession was the primary driver of enrollment growth, policy changes at the federal level and in the states have also affected Medicaid enrollment. Maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have largely prevented states from reducing eligibility levels or enacting more restrictive enrollment procedures. The ACA also provided states the opportunity to expand eligibility to childless adults through a state plan amendment ahead of the required coverage expansions in 2014. 

December 2010 Data Snapshot (.pdf)

Previous versions:

June 2010 Data Snapshot (.pdf)   

December 2009 Data Snapshot (.pdf)

June 2009 Data Snapshot (.pdf)

June 2008 Update (.pdf)