Survey Finds High Satisfaction with Medicaid, CHIP
November 11, 2011
Parents of children with Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage are showing high satisfaction with access to physicians and the quality of health care delivered, according to a survey announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Findings from the report, "Parents' Views of CHIP and Medicaid: Snapshot of Findings From a Survey of Low-Income Parents," was announced at the fall meeting of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
"These results show how Medicaid and CHIP are making a positive difference in providing high quality care and peace of mind for families," said CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D.
More than 1,900 parents of children 19 years of age or younger with family incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty line were interviewed for the survey, which has a margin of error of 2.2 percent.
Seventy percent of those surveyed rated Medicaid and CHIP programs as very or somewhat good.
The two programs also rated higher than health coverage offered by employers. Sixty-six percent were very satisfied with Medicaid and CHIP, compared to 48 percent for employer coverage plans.
Parents also ranked the quality of care received under the programs as better than employer-provided coverage.
Despite concerns over lowered provider participation due to reduction in reimbursement payments, Medicaid and CHIP were slightly better than employer insurance with respect to finding a doctor or scheduling appointments.
When asked why they enrolled their children in Medicaid or CHIP, more than 70 percent of the parents said they did so to establish "peace of mind." Almost as many parents were motivated by affordability.
"This survey amplifies the voice of consumers, and we are listening," said Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.
"We continue to work on streamlining the enrollment process and on providing families a variety of ways they can apply for Medicaid and CHIP coverage. A growing number of states are offering online applications, which parents say they want. CMS is supporting efforts to create and refine online applications so that we can offer the best customer service possible."
Nationally, about 85 percent of eligible children are enrolled in one of the two programs.
Satisfaction with Medicaid is important to the future success of the Affordable Care Act, which provides for a substantial expansion in Medicaid coverage to lower-income adults beginning in 2014.