Drawing upon a range of recent studies of those newly covered through the expansion of Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that the program rollout has been a huge success, particularly among those who now have health insurance.
HHS released a report that focused on the effect Medicaid expansion has had on coverage and access to care. The expansion was a major piece of the Affordable Care Act. Coupled with low-cost, subsidized health insurance purchased through private companies, the Medicaid rollout represents the act's other major initiative to expand health insurance coverage to most Americans.
The report states that those newly enrolled in Medicaid are both satisfied with their coverage and with the care they are receiving. It offers yet another impetus to pressure the remaining states that have not facilitated expansion to do so.
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Among the major findings:
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Expansion states realized a nearly 50 percent decline in the uninsured rate, compared to a 33 percent drop in non-expansion states since passage of the act.
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The percentage of low-income adults reporting problems paying medical bills declined by 10.5 percent, to 24 percent, compared to 35 percent prior to expansion.
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Seventy-eight percent of those who have obtained insurance because of the Medicaid rollout say they could not have afforded the care they have been receiving prior to the expansion.
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The decline in those reporting that they could not afford care prior to expansion was greater in the expansion states (5 percent) than in the non-expansion states (3 percent). The rate declined somewhat in the non-expansion states due to the availability of low-cost, subsidized insurance through the exchange network.
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Unmet health care needs among low-income adults dropped by 10.5 percent, but remains high, at 45 percent.
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Two-thirds of newly covered adults say they are better off now than they were prior to enrolling.
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93 percent are "very or somewhat satisfied" with their Medicaid health plans.
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92 percent are "very or somewhat satisfied" with their primary care physicians.
"Evidence shows that once covered, the newly enrolled population can obtain primary care services, be screened and diagnosed for chronic conditions, and access needed prescription medications and dental care. Enrollees report satisfaction with their health coverage, the doctors included in their plan and the affordability of Medicaid," the report concludes.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
