Confusion for people who enrolled in Medicaid on healthcare.gov

Some people who applied early in the open enrollment period may not actually be signed up for the program and may be flummoxed by federal robocalls encouraging them to apply again directly to state agencies. Also, news outlets offer updates from Missouri, Pennsylvania and Maryland.  

CQ HealthBeat: Federal Robocalls Urge Medicaid Applicants On Healthcare.Gov To Reapply For Coverage
Most consumers who applied for Medicaid coverage through healthcare.gov soon after the open enrollment period began on Oct. 1 under the health law still have not started receiving health benefits, said state Medicaid officials in two states and a National Association of Medicaid Directors official. People who have applied for Medicaid through healthcare.gov may be confused by federal robocalls that are now encouraging them to apply again through state agencies (Adams, 1/2).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Missouri Governor Pushes GOP-Led Legislature On Medicaid Expansion 
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, is intensifying his effort to persuade Republican lawmakers to expand Medicaid with a pitch that uses some of the same themes that Republicans favor. At a news conference in his Capitol office this week, Nixon praised states such as Iowa and Arkansas for designing "common-sense, market-based approaches" that encourage personal responsibility on the part of Medicaid participants (Young, 1/2).

The Associated Press: Pa. Issues Warning Over Medicaid File Problems
Pennsylvanians who applied for health insurance through the federally run website Healthcare.gov and were found to be eligible or potentially eligible for Medicaid were cautioned Thursday by Gov. Tom Corbett's office that they may not have coverage yet.  An administration spokesman said the federal government continues to have trouble transferring the electronic files of more than 25,000 applications to the state's Department of Public Welfare (Levy, 1/2).

The Baltimore Sun: State Leaders Embrace Medicaid Expansion
Nearly two out of every three people signing up for health care coverage so far on Maryland's troubled insurance exchange qualified for Medicaid -; helping the state top its goal for the program's enrollment. Enrolling more lower-income residents in the state and federal insurance program has been embraced by state leaders as a success amid all the exchange's difficulties (Cohn, 1/2).