Medicaid Enrollment Next Steps

Helping someone enroll in Medicaid is just the first step! It is also important to tell those enrolled in Medicaid what to do next. Now that the Marketplace Open Enrollment has ended, it is a great time to open up the conversation about the next steps that Medicaid enrollees should take with their health insurance plan.

Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has curated the following 4 actions to help those who have enrolled in Medicaid to use their benefits:

1. Read the health insurance card when it arrives in the mail. It is important to get together with the other family members on the plan, give them their cards, and talk about the new plan. Some important topics to talk about include:

   - Copays for doctors visits, urgent care, and the emergency room

   - The plan's deductible

   - Finding the insurance company's phone number and website on the back of the card

   - Making sure to keep the insurance card in a safe place, such as a wallet or a purse, and having it at all times

   
   

2. Review the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) that will also come in the mail. Some of the important information on the SBC include:

   - Healthcare services that the plan covers as well as services that are not covered

   - More information on the costs of healthcare services

   
   

3. Schedule a yearly checkup with an in-network doctor. It is important to find an in-network doctor because they contract with the insurance company to provide care at a lower cost. To find an in-network doctor either:

   - Call the insurance company using the phone number on the back of the card

   - Visit the insurance company's website and click on "Find a provider" or "find a doctor"

   
   

4. Organize all important health insurance papers together in a safe place where they can be easily found. Things to keep include:

   - The SBC

   - Healthcare bills and receipts

   - Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for the insurance company

MFH has additional handouts to help support conversations in helping others understand and use health insurance.