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Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus Reform: Impact on Low‐Income Families' Enrollment and Retention in Public Coverage
Author(s) -
Leininger Lindsey Jeanne,
Friedsam Donna,
Dague Laura,
Mok Shan,
Hynes Emma,
Bergum Alison,
Aksamitauskas Milda,
Oliver Thomas,
DeLeire Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01215.x
Subject(s) - outreach , medicaid , public health insurance , low income , health insurance , demography , proportional hazards model , median income , demographic economics , public health , medicine , health care , environmental health , economics , economic growth , sociology , nursing , population , surgery
Objectives. To examine the impact of a Wisconsin health care reform enacted in early 2008 on public insurance enrollment and retention. Data Sources. Administrative data covering the period January 2007 to November 2009. Study Design. We calculate unadjusted enrollment trends and exit rates stratified by age, income group, and enrollment mode. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models are estimated to assess the impact of the reform on program exits. Principal Findings. Overall enrollment increased by approximately one‐third and exit rates decreased by approximately one‐fifth. The majority of new enrollment came from the previously income eligible. Conclusions. Wisconsin's enactment of eligibility expansions coupled with administrative simplification and targeted marketing and outreach efforts were successful in enrolling and retaining low‐income children and families in public coverage.