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Safety Net Health Plans Launch Initiative to Keep Kids Covered
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Sara Matthews, SMatthews@MessagePartnersPR.com, (281) 650-2961
SAFETY NET HEALTH PLANS LAUNCH INITIATIVE TO KEEP KIDS COVERED
Effort seeks to address record number of children disenrolled from Medicaid who may be eligible for coverage–even if their parents aren’t
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) launched a multi-state, multi-media public awareness effort to help adults keep their kids’ Medicaid coverage intact at a time when many children from families with low incomes are being declared ineligible for the safety-net insurance program by their states.
ACAP’s effort, which is grounded in digital and out-of-home advertising in English and Spanish, is focused on four states with high numbers of children being disenrolled from Medicaid: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The goal is to reach parents of children who may have Medicaid, alerting them that they should proactively renew their child’s coverage—even if their own Medicaid coverage cannot be renewed. Many people incorrectly assume that if they are ineligible, then their children are also ineligible.
“As states and health plans resume normal redeterminations, we need to take every effort to make the process as frictionless and accurate as possible. Having even a single child mistakenly lose Medicaid because their parents no longer qualify for the program would be unacceptable,” said James Stringham, CEO of Banner Health Plans in Arizona. “Families need access to good information and assistance to be sure eligible kids stay covered.”
As of Dec. 11, nearly 60,000 people have visited the campaign webpage to learn more about what they need to do to keep their insurance.
“This is an incredibly trying time for Medicaid enrollees, and ACAP-member plans have stepped up to help individuals maintain their coverage or find affordable Marketplace alternatives,” said Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of ACAP. “ACAP looks forward to continuing our work with plans and policymakers to ensure people have access to affordable, high-quality health coverage.”
The alarming trend of record numbers of children being disenrolled from Medicaid stems from states being required to redetermine who meets Medicaid eligibility guidelines following the expiration of the COVID-era continuous Medicaid eligibility policy. Up to 7 million children could lose coverage by the unwinding’s conclusion; the 21 states that break out disenrollment statistics by age, report that more than 2.3 million children have lost Medicaid coverage in the unwinding so far.
More than 7 in 10 disenrollments are due to “procedural reasons,” meaning a state Medicaid agency could not reach an enrollee due to out-of-date contact information, an unreturned renewal packet or simple clerical errors.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy has joined ACAP as a supporter of this effort.
Visit StayCovered.org or MantenteCubierto.org for additional information.
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 80 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 25 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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