Bridging the Funding Gap
Thank you to KeyBank and Key Healthcare for generously matching up to $10,000 in donations. With their support, you can double your impact as we work to overcome the effects of the Medicaid Unwind.
What is the Medicaid Unwind?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal public health emergency order meant that people who were enrolled in Medicaid would not lose their coverage through the usual annual renewal process. With the end of this emergency order in January 2023, the renewal process and eligibility criteria went back to normal, meaning that many people who had qualified for coverage during the pandemic suddenly became ineligible.
Combined with administrative errors and other factors, this "Medicaid unwind" caused over 500,000 Coloradans to lose the coverage they had come to rely on for their care.
What does this mean for people served by WellPower?
Nearly 1,500 people we serve have lost their Medicaid coverage. Many people did not know that they had lost their coverage until they arrived at WellPower for their regular appointment.
The Medicaid Unwind has not only impacted the people we serve, but WellPower's resources, too. In addition to providing our regular services, we are also working diligently to help people we serve get their Medicaid coverage back and ensure a cycle of sustainability for our organization. This process requires upwards of 3,000 additional staff hours to support the people we serve in getting their Medicaid insurance back.
WellPower's commitment to the people we serve means we are continuing to provide services while doing what we can to cover costs, but we need your help.
Medicaid Funding and WellPower
WellPower relies on Medicaid to keep providing services for our community. With almost 70% of our funding coming from Medicaid, the unwind has made it more difficult for us to continue covering costs while providing the care thousands of people in our community need.
Make a gift today and join fellow supporters in bridging the funding gap to ensure access to care for our community.
We’re excited to announce that we have an opportunity to double the impact of your donation. Every dollar you donate now through July 31, 2024 will be matched by KeyBank and Key Healthcare up to $10,000. With this generous match, your gift will go twice as far, doubling your kindness, impact and investment in a healthier community.
To learn more about the Medicaid Unwind and how gifts like yours can make a monumental difference in the lives of people we serve, we invite you to check out the following resources:
- The Denver Post: More than 2 in 5 Coloradans who had eligibility reviewed lost Medicaid in first assessment since COVID
- Colorado Children's Campaign: Tens of thousands of Coloradans have already lost Medicaid coverage as continuous eligibility unwinds
- KFF.org: Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker
- Medicaid.gov: Who is eligible for Medicaid?