The new report, released today, supports CAMI’s recommendations to the Biden administration to eliminate barriers to accessing health insurance for the nation’s most vulnerable
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Families USA released a report, authored by Rebecca Gordon and Stan Dorn, in partnership with the Center for Accountability, Modernization and Innovation (CAMI) examining some of the many burdens that Americans face when attempting to obtain health care coverage for which they are eligible. The report found that, across states, the most vulnerable Americans are facing onerous paperwork requirements, delays and confusion that obstruct enrollment in health care coverage, whether it be Affordable Care Act, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.
“CAMI has long advocated for the need to make government programs more efficient, reducing barriers to enrollment that harm the most vulnerable Americans, and we are delighted to once again partner with Families USA to advance this important work. Families USA’s most recent report further highlights the need to better align benefit programs, while transforming operations and the thinking around government benefits,” said CAMI Board Chair Stan Soloway. “This report is just the latest example that CAMI’s work to advocate for innovative structures can make life better for both beneficiaries and taxpayers.”
Some of the report’s key findings:
- In 15 of the 16 states, consumer assistance programs reported that the paperwork burdens, confusion, and delays resulting from fragmented eligibility systems prevented eligible applicants from obtaining coverage. The greatest harm was observed in families with limited English proficiency.
- In 12 of the 16 states, consumers who applied to Medicaid or CHIP and were found potentially eligible for marketplace coverage were required to re-file the same application with the marketplace. In five states, families who applied at the marketplace and had their files transferred to Medicaid were required to complete and file the same application with the latter program, imposing needless paperwork requirements and delays that impeded enrollment.
- In 10 of the 16 states, consumers who applied at the marketplace, answered detailed questions and provided documentary proof of eligibility were required to answer those same questions and provide the same documents to Medicaid after their application was forwarded there. In eight states, families who sought coverage from Medicaid or CHIP and had their applications sent to the marketplace had to meet similar demands for redundant information provision
You can read the full report from Families USA here.
The Center for Accountability, Modernization and Innovation (CAMI) provides thought leadership designed to help government work better for the American people. We support policies that improve outcomes and drive innovation in government service through public and private partnerships.