Ohio readying new online Medicaid system for enrollment spike

Ohio officials said this week that they hope the state’s new Medicaid enrollment system will be up and running in time to give eligible Ohioans several weeks to enroll before coverage starts on Jan. 1 (Source: “Will state’s online Medicaid system be overwhelmed, too?,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 27, 2013)

The state Medicaid program currently insures 2.4 million poor and disabled Ohioans. Under the ACA, state officials anticipate that about 600,000 more Ohioans will sign up for Medicaid by July 1, 2015. About half became eligible last week when the state Controlling Board authorized Gov. John Kasich’s request to expand the program. The other half — currently eligible but not enrolled — are expected to sign up to avoid tax penalties that will be imposed after Jan. 1 for most Americans who fail to obtain health coverage.

A two-year rollout of the new system was launched on Oct. 1, coinciding with the launch of ACA. So far, 144 teens who have aged out of the foster-care system have been, or are in the process of being, enrolled online in the state Medicaid program.

The 275,000 expansion group is next to be enrolled online, followed by children and parents starting Jan. 1. Until then, Medicaid applicants can continue to sign up for benefits in person or by telephone.