New research from Sage Growth Partners reveals a looming crisis in maternal healthcare, finding that 52 percent of Medicaid mothers anticipate losing coverage due to eligibility redeterminations. The research, based on a Q1 2026 survey of 50 health plan leaders and 300 pregnant or recently pregnant women and their caregivers, underscores growing risks to care access, health equity, and maternal and infant outcomes.
The impact of coverage disruptions extends beyond administrative issues. Health plan leaders cite delayed or avoided prenatal and postpartum care at 72 percent, care continuity breakdowns at 66 percent, and increased financial barriers at 64 percent as the most significant risks to maternal and infant health. Additionally, 84 percent of health plan leaders expect moderate to severe disruption to care continuity as redeterminations continue.
Vulnerable populations face disproportionate impact, including women with intermittent income or coverage, postpartum mothers beyond 60 days, rural populations, and families with NICU infants. Fear and uncertainty about potential coverage loss represent a significant emotional and behavioral concern for many survey respondents. More than 80 percent of health plan leaders expect at least 10 percent of their members to lose coverage, with many anticipating delays or gaps in prenatal and postpartum care.
Health plan leaders are already responding to the crisis, with nearly seven in ten increasing outreach and member education efforts. Others are strengthening partnerships with providers and community organizations and exploring new strategies to maintain continuity of care. According to Sage Growth Partners CEO Dan D’Orazio, proactive outreach, smarter care management, and stronger partnerships will be critical as policy changes at the federal level are expected to increase the frequency and impact of redeterminations, causing higher coverage churn and difficult care transitions.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-next-maternal-health-crisis-coverage-loss-for-half-of-medicaid-mothers-302762766.html