Research shows that individuals eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled are significantly more prone to postponing healthcare.

A recent analysis published by the Urban Institute reveals that adults who are eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled in the program are more prone to delaying medical care due to costs.

The survey highlights that 21.4 percent of non-Medicaid enrolled individuals experience delays in medical care due to the affordability factor, compared to only 7.3 percent of enrollees and 9.5 percent of Medicaid-eligible individuals with private insurance.

Furthermore, the analysis indicates that eligible but unenrolled adults are less likely to have seen a doctor in the past year (23.4 percent compared to 65.4 percent of Medicaid enrollees). They are also less likely to have filled prescriptions (27.8 percent compared to 67 percent) and spent time in a hospital (2.5 percent versus 12.6 percent).

Additionally, the analysis reveals that only 37 percent of Medicaid-eligible adults who are not enrolled have a usual source of care, while 69.9 percent of Medicaid enrollees and 66.8 percent of Medicaid-eligible individuals with private insurance reported having a regular healthcare provider.

Uninsured Medicaid-eligible adults also face higher out-of-pocket health expenses compared to those who are enrolled in insurance plans.

The analysis challenges the idea that being eligible for Medicaid automatically ensures coverage. It emphasizes the importance of being enrolled in health insurance, as individuals with coverage encounter fewer obstacles and experience better outcomes.

This analysis arrives at a critical time, as millions of people have recently been removed from state Medicaid programs due to the expiration of pandemic-era policies.

According to the health policy research group KFF, approximately 5.5 million people have been purged from state Medicaid rolls across 45 states and the District of Columbia.

While most individuals were removed for procedural reasons, such as incomplete paperwork or outdated contact information, they may still be eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Last year, Congress granted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services greater authority to ensure that states do not wrongfully terminate Medicaid beneficiaries. The agency is empowered to instruct states to halt procedural terminations, implement corrective action plans, or cease federal funding.

Given the circumstances surrounding the removal of millions from Medicaid rolls, there is mounting pressure on the Biden administration to protect individuals and guarantee their access to healthcare.

The analysis is based on data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component.

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