Covered California, Medi-Cal Renewal Rates High

The majority of Medi-Cal beneficiaries and Covered California enrollees who were eligible to renew their coverage last year opted to do so, according a recent report, HealthyCal reports.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program.

The report was released by Covered California and the California Department of Health Care Services (Guzik, HealthyCal, 7/30). Reporting on eligibility and enrollment processes for California’s insurance programs is required under state law (California HealthCare Foundation brief, July 2015). CHCF publishes California Healthline.

Report Findings

According to the report, 92% of the 1.1 million Covered California enrollees who were eligible to renew their coverage in the last quarter of 2014 opted to do so.

Of those who renewed their coverage through the state exchange, 94% kept the same insurer.

Meanwhile, the report found that the renewal rate was slightly lower among Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Specifically, 82% of the three million Medi-Cal beneficiaries due for renewal continued their coverage.

Beneficiaries can become ineligible for Medi-Cal if:

-They obtain coverage through an employer; or
-Their incomes increase above a certain threshold.

Meanwhile, some advocates have said the Medi-Cal renewal process can be complex, HealthyCal reports (HealthyCal, 7/30).

The report also found that during the last quarter of 2014:

-About 710,000 individuals were deemed eligible for Medi-Cal;
-340,000 individuals applied and were deemed eligible for plans on Covered California; and
-Children up to age 17 accounted for 31% of Covered California applicants, while young adults ages 18 to 25 accounted for 15% of applicants.

Of the Californians eligible for health plans through Covered California:

-86% are receiving subsidies to help pay premiums; and
-73% applied for coverage with assistance (California HealthCare Foundation brief, July 2015).

Source Link

CaliforniaHealthline

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