Outreach Strategies for Health Insurance Enrollment

(MAPS Trial)

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Covered California

Disqualifiers: Active marketplace plan, Restored Medi-Cal, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

30000 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Facilitated enrollment offers a potential solution to some administrative burdens and choice frictions that may produce incomplete take-up of marketplace coverage. Because Covered California, California's ACA individual marketplace, and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, share an eligibility system, Covered California has the ability to identify individuals who are eligible for marketplace coverage upon losing Medicaid eligibility. This evaluation will compare the effectiveness of facilitated enrollment strategies, including personalized plan pre-selection and personalized quotes of net premiums, to other enhanced, but general outreach tactics, on marketplace take-up among individuals losing Medi-Cal coverage.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Automatic Plan Assignment and Enhanced Outreach?

Research shows that automated communication strategies can effectively improve patient engagement and adherence to health programs, as seen in studies where automated outreach increased healthcare visits and necessary tests for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment 'Outreach Strategies for Health Insurance Enrollment' differ from other treatments for health insurance enrollment?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on outreach strategies to increase health insurance enrollment, particularly through personalized contact and community-driven projects, rather than traditional methods like advertising or online campaigns. It emphasizes the importance of in-person assistance and partnerships with community organizations to overcome barriers such as low health insurance literacy. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals in California who are eligible for marketplace coverage after losing Medicaid eligibility. It aims to evaluate if facilitated enrollment strategies can help people sign up more easily compared to general outreach methods.

Inclusion Criteria

Did not attest to planning to file taxes within their Covered California application

I am no longer covered by Medi-Cal.

Individual in a single-member household

Exclusion Criteria

Consumer case is no longer active within the application system

Consumer is already actively enrolled in a marketplace plan

Consumer has already restored Medi-Cal eligibility

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive either a standard eligibility notice, enhanced outreach, or a pre-selected plan with personalized quotes

90 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes such as prescription fills, emergency room visits, and insurance status

1-2 years

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Automatic Plan Assignment and Enhanced Outreach

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of two approaches: automatic plan assignment with personalized details like pre-selected plans and net premium quotes, versus enhanced but general outreach tactics like informational flyers.

Participant Groups

Group I: Pre-Selected Plan Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A treatment group that receives a modified eligibility notice that includes information on the pre-selected lowest-cost silver health insurance plan with a personalized quote for their net premium amount, as well as the informational flyer.

Group II: Enhanced Outreach Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A treatment group that receives a standard eligibility notice informing them of their eligibility for marketplace coverage and an informational flyer describing what Covered California is, the availability of financial assistance, and information on benefit design and private insurance terminology, such as deductibles and copays.

Group III: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

A control group that receives a standard eligibility notice informing them of their eligibility for marketplace coverage.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Covered California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

90,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role for automated communication strategies in medication adherence management. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Outreach Messages on Medicaid Enrollment. [2018]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized trial of stage-based interventions for informed Medicare choices. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using physician-led automated communications to improve patient health. [2016]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Propensity to Succeed: Prioritizing Individuals Most Likely to Benefit from Care Coordination. [2018]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measuring the impact of outreach and enrollment strategies for public health insurance in California. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Barriers to enrollment and successful outreach strategies in CHIP: reflections on the Arizona experience. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors Affecting Health Insurance Enrollment Through the State Marketplaces: Observations on the ACA's Third Open Enrollment Period. [2016]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons from a Broad-based ACA Outreach Effort: Promises and Pitfalls. [2018]