Massachusetts

Massachusetts:  Within Our Grasp: Achieving Full Insurance for Massachusetts' Kids

In collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the Massachusetts Office of Medicaid is leading the Within Our Grasp:  Achieving Full Insurance for Massachusetts Kids project as a grantee of the Maximizing Enrollment for Kids program. The Massachusetts Office of Medicaid administers the state’s Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs, known as MassHealth. MassHealth currently provides coverage to children with family income up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). As a part of the state’s health reform, which passed in 2006, the state increased the income eligibility of MassHealth for children from 200% to 300% of the FPL. Massachusetts’ combination CHIP program includes a Medicaid expansion component for children with family income up to 150% of FPL (200% of FPL for infants) and a separate CHIP component for children with family income between 150% and 300% of the FPL. The state’s Medicaid and CHIP programs are so integrated that the distinction between the two is invisible to families. In addition to increasing income eligibility, the Massachusetts’ reform legislation included provisions that promote enrollment of children to MassHealth. One example, is the state’s use of a “family application” that allows everyone in a family to apply for public coverage using one form and the state administratively matches family members with the appropriate coverage. As a grantee of the Maximizing Enrollment for Kids program Massachusetts seeks to create a seamless and continuous enrollment and eligibility process to decrease the proportion of children who are MassHealth eligible but unenrolled.

Click here for a profile of Massachusetts’ Medicaid and CHIP programs and to learn about the state’s enrollment and renewal simplification strategies.

“The Maximizing Enrollment for Kids initiative provides the MassHealth program with a valuable opportunity to learn from other states who share our goal of ensuring full utilization of Medicaid by those eligible.” – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, 2008