Child Enrollment in Medicaid/CHIP Dropped Below Pre-Pandemic Levels for the First Time Published: June 1, 2026

https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/child-enrollment-in-medicaid-chip-dropped-below-pre-pandemic-levels-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_t7KT8-TsTaL6ZVD-XIiZXbA766QAH4Oi3JgtRyemiOEy5Z7FeDNZxHsyqqmruGDR9VCIl0QXGxpagYfaamt3JXU8nlQ&_hsmi=422423561&utm_content=422423561&utm_source=hs_email In February 2026, there were 345,000 fewer children enrolled in Medicaid/the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) compared to before the start of the pandemic in February 2020, a 1% decline. Due to the pandemic-era continuous enrollment provision, child enrollment in Medicaid/CHIP increased by 7 million from February 2020 to April 2023. During the unwinding of continuous enrollment, enrollment for children declined from the peak and continued to decline after the unwinding period ended, dropping by 7.4 million from April 2023 through February 2026.