Ohio medicaid expansion enrollees: Impact of loss of coverage on access to care, 2018

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nau, Michael^{a; *} | Cohen, Steven B.^b

Affiliations: [a] Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center, OH, USA | [b] RTI International, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Michael Nau, 150 Pressey Hall 1070 Carmack Road Columbus OH 43210, USA. Tel.: +1 614 688 6923; E-mail: Michael.Nau@osumc.edu.

Abstract: This study investigates the extent to which former Medicaid expansion enrollees transition to other forms of health insurance coverage, and whether loss of Medicaid is associated with greater difficulties accessing health care. Findings from a 2018 survey of current and former enrollees in Ohio’s Medicaid expansion program revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents no longer covered by Medicaid had transitioned to another form of insurance coverage. The most prevalent reason for not having coverage among the remaining one-third was affordability. Former Medicaid enrollees that obtained other sources of coverage also reported greater difficulties accessing health care services than their counterparts remaining on Medicaid. The prevailing explanation as to the cause of experiencing difficulties in accessing health care was the expense. These findings demonstrate that for former Medicaid enrollees, perceived high costs are a significant barrier to obtaining non-Medicaid coverage and accessing health care services.

Keywords: Medicaid expansion, health insurance coverage, access to care

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-190467

Journal: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 221-228, 2019