Medicaid After Pregnancy: State-Level Implications of Extending Postpartum Coverage

The postpartum period is increasingly recognized as a target for policy intervention to improve maternal health. The American Rescue Plan Act included an option for states to offer 12 months of postpartum Medicaid eligibility, a significant extension from the current requirement of 60 days. This brief provides an overview of the important role Medicaid plays in postpartum maternal health, reviews existing pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility limits in state Medicaid programs, and assesses the projected eligibility impact if all states were to extend postpartum Medicaid eligibility to 12 months.

Related Products:

• Medicaid Churning and Continuity of Care
• HHS Initiative to Improve Maternal Health