Massachusetts' MassHealth Program

The MassHealth Program utilized a combination of efforts to increase awareness and simplify the application and eligibility process in order to overcome two critical challenges:

• Parents’ perception of the program as being available only for welfare recipients.

MassHealth addressed these issues through a multi-modal, multi-layer outreach approach that was successful in generating a 28 percent increase in new enrollees within a 12-month period.

Elements of the Strategy to Simplify Eligibility

• Utilization of gross, not net, income.
• Elimination of asset standard.
• Reduction of verifications (no birth certificates; immigration unnecessary for limited coverage; two instead of four pay stubs requested).
• Shortened application form.
• Automated Eligibility System (determines eligibility in 3 days vs. 3 weeks) which always gives maximum program available to recipient during initial eligibility or redetermination.

MassHealth Simplified the Application Process

• Outstationed workers.
• An 800 number for information dissemination

Related Questions

Show me more State strategies

• SCHIP Guidance - State Strategies

Take me to related sites

• Massachusetts' MassHealth Program Site [http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2topic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=MassHealth+and+Insurance&sid=Eeohhs2]

Who presented this material?

• Mark Reynolds