Aging Trends
Simplifying Enrollment in Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs for the Elderly and Individuals with Disabilities
Research Report
Laura L. Summer, Health Policy Institute, Georgetown University
Emily S. Ihara, Health Policy Institute, Georgetown University
December 2005
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Although low participation in Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) for elderly and disabled persons has been attributed to several factors, eligibility policy and enrollment practices play major roles.
This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper reports the results of a 50-state survey which sought to learn about state Medicaid programs' enrollment processes and the extent to which states are simplifying them in order to make enrolling easier for potential beneficiaries. A key finding was that a majority of states had implemented at least one practice to simplify the process. The report also identifies minimum federal requirements for state enrollment practices in these programs.
The information should be useful to state and federal policymakers as they seek to maximize enrollment in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and the special financial subsidies to which some Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes are entitled. (62 pages)
Pub ID: 2005-10