Informational Flyers for Outreach Intervention

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Covered California

Disqualifiers: Not enrolled, Affordability crosswalk, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether an informational flyer can help Covered California members choose better health plans and use more healthcare services. The flyer highlights new benefits in the Silver plans, such as $0 deductibles and reduced costs for visits and medications. Researchers aim to determine if receiving this flyer encourages people to switch to these better options or visit the doctor more frequently for check-ups. Households eligible for automatic health plan renewal through Covered California will participate.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance healthcare choices and access for many.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on evaluating the impact of an informational flyer on health plan selection and healthcare utilization.

What prior data suggests that this informational flyer is safe for use in outreach interventions?

Research has shown that informational flyers, like the one used in this study, are safe for people to use. Flyers present a low-risk method for sharing information and have no known side effects. This study examines how a flyer can influence the choice of health plans, without directly affecting physical health. The flyer serves as a tool to aid in making informed decisions about health coverage by highlighting cost benefits such as $0 deductibles and lower premiums. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the impact of using informational flyers to enhance healthcare decision-making for Covered California members. Unlike standard renewal notices that simply inform members of their upcoming coverage renewal, this approach adds a layer of targeted information designed to encourage proactive shopping for coverage. The hope is that these flyers will empower individuals with clearer options and lead to more informed choices, potentially improving coverage satisfaction and engagement. This trial could reveal how a simple communication tool might significantly influence health insurance decisions.

What evidence suggests that this informational flyer is effective for improving health plan selection and healthcare utilization?

In this trial, participants divide into two groups: the Flyer Group and the No-Flyer Group. The Flyer Group will receive an informational flyer insert during the 2025 plan year, along with a standard renewal notice. A previous study showed that educational flyers help people make better choices about their health insurance plans by clearly explaining the benefits. Research shows that when people learn about improved health plan features, like $0 deductibles and lower costs, they are more likely to choose plans that offer them more value. Data from Covered California indicates that providing clear information can lead to more people signing up for plans and using healthcare services more effectively. Initial findings suggest that explaining benefits like free preventive visits encourages people to use healthcare services more often. This approach aims to overcome barriers and help people choose plans that better meet their needs. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Emily Kohn, Masters of Public Policy

Principal Investigator

Covered California

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for members of Covered California who are renewing their health plans during the 2025 plan year. It's designed to see if getting extra information about the benefits of Silver plans influences their choice and use of healthcare services.

Inclusion Criteria

Households who qualify for automatic renewal of their Covered California health plan as of October 4

Households that were enrolled in Covered California on the subsidized application

Exclusion Criteria

Households that were no longer enrolled as of January 31, 2025. This includes people who chose to cancel their coverage in 2024 and those who were automatically disenrolled due to changes in eligibility during the open enrollment period

Households that were included in the affordability crosswalk. The affordability crosswalk is a Covered California process that moves eligible individuals with lower incomes to Silver CSR plans during renewal. This population includes members with incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level who were enrolled in Bronze plans and eligible for $0 premiums with Silver plans, members below 200% of the federal poverty level who were enrolled in Gold plans, and members below 150% of the federal poverty level who were enrolled in Platinum plans. Approximately 23,000 members are excluded from the experiment due to this restriction

Households with members enrolled with the carrier Valley Health Plan and Dental Health Services. This group was excluded due to changes in plan availability that necessitated a special notice. Approximately 30,000 members are excluded from this experiment due to this restriction

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive an informational flyer insert about enhanced CSR plan benefits during the 2025 plan year

Up to 4 months

No in-person visits required

Follow-up

Participants' enrollment in enhanced CSR plans and healthcare utilization are monitored

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Informational Flyer Insert

Trial Overview The study tests whether an informational flyer insert detailing enhanced Silver plan benefits affects health plan selection and utilization. Researchers will compare those who receive the flyer with those who don't, using administrative and claims data.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Flyer Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Renewing Covered California members who receive the informational flyer insert during the 2025 plan year along with a standard renewal notice informing them of their upcoming coverage renewal and encourages consumers to shop for coverage ahead of the next coverage year.

Group II: No-Flyer Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Renewing Covered California households who do not receive the informational flyer insert during the 2025 plan year. They only receive a standard renewal notice informing them of their upcoming coverage renewal and encourages consumers to shop for coverage ahead of the next coverage year.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Covered California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

90,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07136233

Impact of Benefit Inserts on Health Plan Selection and ... The study aims to evaluate the impact of an informational flyer insert on health plan selection and health care utilization among Covered ...

2. patlynk.com patlynk.com/trial/NCT07136233

Educational Flyers on Enhanced CSR Plan Enrollment and ... This study is focused on understanding how providing educational flyers about enhanced health insurance plans can influence people's choices ...

3. hbex.coveredca.com hbex.coveredca.com/data-research/

Data & research - California's Health Benefit Exchange Data & Research · 2026 Covered California Data · Impact of Expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit · 2025 Covered California Data · 2024 Covered California ...

4. hbex.coveredca.com hbex.coveredca.com/toolkit/webinars-briefings/downloads/Agent_Briefing_Oct25.pdf

Dear Covered California Enrollment Channel Partners The Renewal Period for 2026 coverage is well underway, and Covered California has stepped up retention efforts to ensure consumers review their ...

5. hbex.coveredca.com hbex.coveredca.com/stakeholders/Marketing-Outreach-Enrollment/PDFs/MOEA-Meeting-Minutes-03_04_2021-Final.pdf

Marketing, Outreach, and Enrollment Assistance (MOEA) Cori Racela: Employment Development Department (EDD) is sending a Covered. California informational flyer insert to those people who have been ...

6. safetyculture.com safetyculture.com/checklists/safety-data-sheet

Free Safety Data Sheet Template | PDF A safety data sheet template is used to inform workers of the properties, hazards, and safe use of chemicals in an occupational setting.

7. bradyid.com bradyid.com/safety-security/safety-binders-inserts

Safety Binders and Inserts | Brady Our SDS binders are fully compliant with GHS guidelines, and are a great place to store your SDS materials to be easily accessible for all employees.

8. canva.com canva.com/templates/s/safety/

Free and customizable safety templates Explore professionally designed safety templates you can customize and share easily from Canva.

9. designwiz.com designwiz.com/blog/spread-safety-awareness-with-customizable-flyers/

Spread Safety Awareness with Customizable Safety Flyers Learn how customizable safety flyers spread awareness, reduce risks, and promote safety practices in workplaces, schools, and events.

10. visme.co visme.co/blog/safety-data-sheet-example/

Safety Data Sheet Examples & Templates for Better ... Explore safety data sheet examples & templates to improve compliance and keep your workplace safe. Get helpful tips to write, manage & share ...