Proposal Presented for the Master Plan For Aging (#72)
Disclaimer
Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.
Summary
Undertake regulatory and budgetary outreach, education and programmatic actions that aim to increase, streamline, and simplify enrollment into the Medicare Savings Program (MSP).
Justification
The MSP can help older adults build health and economic security. However, stubborn barriers to enrollment, access, and retention persist. Accessibility, stigma, lack of adequate outreach, education, and application assistance, all impact MSP enrollment and retention. The elements of this proposal would update and align benefit criteria, streamline application processes, increase outreach and awareness, update technology infrastructure, and maximize benefit enrollment using data matching which may automate enrollments across multiple benefit programs.
Full Proposal
The MSP assists older adults with maintaining financial and economic security regarding their health costs. Unfortunately, barriers to enrollment, access, and retention persist, including accessibility, stigma, a lack of adequate outreach, education, and application assistance. To better serve older adults, actions that aim to increase, streamline, and simplify enrollment into the Medicare Savings Program and multiple benefits that results in universal access into comprehensive health coverage should be considered.
- Update and align benefit eligibility criteria that supports affordability and whole-body, whole health.
- Ease the application process for new applicants and prioritize updating information technology immediately.
- Consider a guarantee that individuals transitioning from New York State of Health marketplace Medicaid (MAGI Medicaid and the Essential Plan) can retain comparable health care coverage as they age, and along the continuum of aging and changing health care needs.
- Update major information technology infrastructure and eligibility systems with a focus on diverse feedback including race, ethnicity, health literacy, and disability.
- Streamline application processes and forms by creating a universal benefits application for multiple benefits administered cross-agency with multiple points of entry in the health care, commercial, non-profit, and social service system.
- Maximize benefit awareness and enrollment using data matching that may automate enrollments across multiple benefit programs. This includes exploring flexibility that sustains enrollment in benefits through automated renewal processes across multiple benefits.
- Expand outreach, communications and marketing, and application assistance, including increased funding for Health Insurance and Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) and non-profit assistors that help people enroll in benefits.
- Track, measure, and report enrollment data across multiple benefits in a uniform manner to identify gaps and barriers in cross benefit enrollment.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as near-term. Components of this proposal are currently being implemented by Chapter 585 of the Laws of 2024. Projects currently being developed are working to maintain plan membership as people grow older. Other components of this proposal are categorized as long-term due to logistical and financial complexity. State agency partners can continue to assess costs and savings to the State. Any increases in funding to support this proposal would be subject to the annual budget process and the availability of resources.