Report : Half of States Improved Medicaid Eligibility Last Year

January 25, 2011

Despite a challenging revenue environment, half the states made it easier for children and their parents to enroll in Medicaid in 2011, according to a survey of Medicaid programs across the U.S. by streamlining enrollment and using technology advances to verify citizenship requirements, according to a report released Wednesday.

The annual 50-state survey, the results of which were compiled in a report, was conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured in conjunction with the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

Aside from making enrollment easier, eight states expanded eligibility rules so more children would qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Three states - Illinois, Texas and Vermont - began covering lawfully residing immigrant children without first having them wait five years. 

 “States have made significant strides in covering children, but coverage options for low income adults remain limited,” said Samantha Artiga, co-author of the report and associate director of the commission. 

Only 18 states currently provide full Medicaid benefits to parents with incomes at or above the federal poverty level, $18,530 for a family of three.

This will change in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act mandates that all Americans living at or below the poverty level be eligible for Medicaid.

Two states reduced eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP in 2011.  Arizona, which froze enrollment in its CHIP program in 2009 continued that freeze, leaving 129,000 children on a waiting list for coverage. The state also froze enrollment in a temporary Medicaid program for adults without dependent children.

Nevada halted a Medicaid expansion program for pregnant women and parents of children on Medicaid, ending coverage of several hundred Nevadans. 

While the Affordable Care Act prohibited reductions in Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, the Nevada rollback was allowed because it was a temporary program.

 Eligibility requirements were eased by a variety of methods, including enhancement of online applications and elimination of face-to-face interviews. Several states began enrolling children in CHIP based on their eligibility for other assistance programs, like food stamps.

States were encouraged to take action by an offer of bonus payments from the federal government. Twenty-three states received an additional $300 million in payments from Washington.