When the COVID-19 public health emergency expires, nearly 80 million Medicaid members will have their eligibility redetermined. This redetermination will disproportionately impact members of under-resourced communities, which comprise the majority of Medicaid members. However, many Medicaid members are unaware of this risk of coverage loss due to low engagement with their plan.
This is just one of many reasons Medicaid plans need to focus on improving engagement to support their members. Knowledge of health plan benefits informs a higher standard of care for members. Unfortunately, social determinants of health, socioeconomic status, race, and preferred language are too often not factored into plan communications, resulting in low response rates. Tailored outreach that acknowledges these critical factors can improve engagement, establish trust, and result in better health, satisfaction, and quality ratings.
