- Often criticized, safety-net health program for low-income people leads in signups, Associated Press, November 12, 2013, Washington Post: “The ugly duckling of government health care programs has turned into a rare early success story for President Barack Obama’s technologically challenged health overhaul. Often criticized for byzantine rules and skimpy payments, Medicaid has signed up 444,000 people in 10 states in the six weeks since open enrollment began, according to Avalere Health, a market analysis firm. Twenty-five states are expanding their Medicaid programs, but data for all of them was not available…”
- Colorado health exchange pushes for streamlined insurance application, By Michael Booth, November 11, 2013, Denver Post: “The Colorado health exchange board pushed hard Monday for a faster overhaul of complex Medicaid and insurance applications, warning of a looming Dec. 15 deadline for those stuck in computer purgatory. Consumers trying to enroll in private insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act must fill out a lengthy Medicaid application, and then wait to be approved or denied, before moving to the next step…”
- Problems with federal health portal also stymie Medicaid enrollment, By Robert Pear, November 11, 2013, New York Times: “Problems with the federal health insurance website have prevented tens of thousands of low-income people from signing up for Medicaid even though they are eligible, federal and state officials say, undermining one of the chief goals of the 2010 health care law. The website, HealthCare.gov, is primarily seen as a place to buy private insurance with federal subsidies, but it is also a gateway to Medicaid, which generally provides more benefits at less cost to consumers…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty