Brokers hesitate to offer Medicaid enrollment services to their clients because of the perceived stigma surrounding them.
But the reality is that those stigmas are all talk and no bite - most Americans don't have a problem with public benefits like Medicaid. In fact, those who qualify for it generally prefer it because it offers lower costs and better coverage than many private plans do. Brokers who offer this government-subsidized coverage give themselves an advantage over those who don't while better meeting workers' healthcare needs.
Busting the Medicaid Myths
The common notion that Medicaid provides inferior coverage when compared with private plans is patently false. Study after study has shown that Medicaid recipients are actually happier with their coverage than enrollees in individually purchased plans or employer-sponsored private plans. In three southern states, low-income residents said they preferred Medicaid's quality of care to that of private plans. Nationwide, 87% of Medicaid enrollees feel positive about their health insurance, compared with 73% of those with private plans.
Medicaid's doubters note that only 66% of those eligible for Medicaid are enrolled and say the figures demonstrates inadequacies in the program. Under-enrollment has many causes, but pride is not among them. Many people don't know they're eligible for Medicaid, and the application process is complex. In addition, the application process is largely online, and a significant number of low-income individuals lack computer skills or access to the Internet.
The Truth About Medicaid
The reality is that Medicaid provides affordable, high-quality care to working people. It also presents brokers and business leaders an opportunity to lower costs while increasing the number of employees who have health coverage.
Contrary to the misconception that Medicaid offers little coverage, the program provides more comprehensive coverage than most private plans. Medicaid includes vision and dental benefits for children throughout the country and for adults in most states. It also includes benefits like non-emergency transportation and substance abuse treatment.
What's more, care under Medicaid is just as accessible as care under private plans. Only 2.8% of Medicaid enrollees can't access nearby care - while that number isn't zero, it does suggest that the vast majority of enrollees can find primary and secondary care.
Not only does Medicaid cover a wide range of services, but it's also quite affordable. The vast majority of Medicaid enrollees pay no premiums, and employers pay no additional cash for their employees enrolled in Medicaid. Even in the handful of states that do have premiums, enrollees typically can't lose coverage for failing to pay. Medicaid has no deductibles and minimal co-pays, often charging just a few dollars for prescriptions and doctor visits. Medicaid covers the whole family; unlike many private plans, there are no drastic rate spikes for dependent coverage. For many families, Medicaid is the only path toward insuring the whole family.
In addition to saving money on premiums, people who have Medicaid are significantly less likely to incur significant medical debt than eligible people who do not sign up for Medicaid. Medical debt remains the most common cause of bankruptcies in the U.S., and Medicaid reduces the risk that a devastating medical complication will also bankrupt an individual.
When brokers help companies provide Medicaid enrollment services in the workplace, most employees are grateful to get help with this process in a comfortable and familiar venue without having to make appointments during their limited hours outside work.
How Brokers Can Benefit
It's clear that Medicaid benefits enrollees, but what about the brokers who provide the benefits? Medicaid helps them, too.
Offering Medicaid enrollment support sets brokers apart in a crowded field. By bringing a new solution to the table - particularly one that many people are unaware of - brokers distinguish themselves.
Medicaid options also represent cost savings for employers, so brokers can find footing among business clients if they choose to offer Medicaid. In an increasingly commodified health insurance market, the ability to provide an option that requires minimal or no payroll deductions while offering access to high-quality care gives brokers an edge over the competition.
If attracting business clients wasn't incentive enough, brokers can also earn sizable commissions through third-party enrollers on all workers they enroll in Medicaid, including those who were previously uninsured and thus generating no commission at all. At the end of the day, these additional commissions can actually generate more revenue for brokers than they would receive without offering Medicaid enrollment services.
Employers associate high costs with high quality, but that's not always the case in the world of healthcare. Brokers who help employees find the right coverage for the right price help everyone save money while providing high-quality care to those who need it.
With Medicaid myths busted, it's up to brokers to help individuals access care when they need it - and for a reasonable price. As the American population becomes increasingly insured, Medicaid enrollment continues to climb. Brokers who don't offer Medicaid enrollment support might find themselves on the outside looking in if they fail to provide their clients with the cost savings, coverage and care that Medicaid brings to the table.
