Continuous-Eligibility Policies Stabilize Medicaid Coverage For Children And Could Be Extended To Adults With Similar Results

Abstract

A key method of stabilizing Medicaid coverage is to provide beneficiaries with twelve months of continuous eligibility. Following the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act in 2009, seven states adopted the continuous-eligibility option for children. That policy change led to a 1.8-percentage-point increase in the average length of child enrollment during fiscal year 2010 and increased annual costs for children by about 2.2 percent. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission has recommended offering states the option of giving adults twelve-month continuous eligibility for Medicaid. Our findings suggest that continuous eligibility could promote more stable coverage for adults enrolled in Medicaid at a modest cost.

The Impact of Continuous Medicaid Enrollment on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival in Six Surgical Cancers

“…Our results should be viewed in the context of other evidence on health benefits stemming from Medicaid expansion. Statewide programs to develop continuous eligibility periods have been linked to more stable Medicaid enrollment (Ku, Steinmetz, and Bruen 2013) as well as increased compliance with screening and treatment guidelines in certain cancers (Adams, Chien, and Gabram-Mendola 2012). Substantial expansions of Medicaid eligibility at the state level have also been linked to increased enrollment among the previously uninsured as well as reductions in rates of delayed care and all-cause mortality (Sommers, Baicker, and Epstein 2012;Sommers, Long, and Baicker 2014).…”

The Significant Impact of Different Insurance Enrollment Criteria on the HEDIS Chlamydia Screening Measure for Young Women Enrolled in Medicaid and Commercial Insurance Plans

“…14,15 A study has been conducted to show that the length of Medicaid coverage for children was improved when the 12 months of continuous eligibility policy was implemented. 16 If similar policy is implemented for young Medicaid beneficiaries, reduction in churning and continuous enrollment for young women can be achieved. As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation, more states have expanded their Medicaid programs to include other nonelder adults without dependent children with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level, and to simplify child eligibility criteria for all children up to age 19 years with 138% of the federal poverty level.…”

Understanding Sexual Activity and Chlamydia Testing Rate Based on Linked National Survey and Medicaid Claims Data

“…Several administrative changes for improving continuity of Medicaid coverage, such as changes in renewal policy or extended eligibility criteria to young adults, have been suggested in previous studies. [ 19 , 20 ] With more and more states implementing these policies, Medicaid’s continuity of coverage will improve. Consequently, healthcare quality measures will be more representative, because most eligible Medicaid people will be included in the HEDIS measures.…”